An early-morning truck crash in Clermont, Georgia, sent live chickens spilling across Main Street and into surrounding properties after the driver fell asleep at the wheel. According to the Hall County Sheriff's Office, the crash occurred around 5:11 a.m. when a truck hauling live chickens turned from Shoal Creek Road onto Main Street and struck a utility pole, snagging a power line in the process. The impact caused the truck to overturn, releasing its cargo of live chickens onto the roadway and into the surrounding area. Investigators identified the driver as Ki Yeop Kim of Suwanee, and determined that he had fallen asleep just before the crash. The truck was owned by Wayne Farms, a poultry production company. Emergency crews and utility workers responded to the scene to manage cleanup, recover the chickens, and repair the downed power pole. Main Street was closed to traffic for approximately seven hours, reopening just after 12 p.m. Kim was cited for running a stop sign and failing to maintain his lane, and the Georgia Department of Public Safety's Motor Carrier Compliance Division (MCCD), which assisted in the investigation, indicated that additional charges against the driver are expected.

Location and Infrastructure

The crash occurred at the intersection of Shoal Creek Road and Main Street in Clermont, a small community in Hall County in northeast Georgia. This stretch of Main Street functions as a local connector road and is governed by standard traffic control devices, including stop signs at intersecting roads such as Shoal Creek Road — the same stop sign deputies say the driver failed to observe before the collision. Like many rural Hall County roadways, the area combines two-lane traffic with utility infrastructure, including roadside power poles, running close to the road's edge, which can become serious hazards when vehicles leave their lane or strike fixed objects. The early-morning timing of this crash, before sunrise, is also a factor commonly associated with reduced visibility and driver fatigue on rural routes with limited lighting.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Under Georgia law, drivers and commercial carriers have a duty to operate vehicles safely, including remaining alert and obeying traffic control devices such as stop signs. Because this crash involved a commercial vehicle, federal motor carrier safety regulations enforced by Georgia's Motor Carrier Compliance Division may also apply, particularly regarding driver fatigue and hours-of-service requirements. Georgia follows a modified comparative negligence rule, meaning a party found more than 50% at fault cannot recover damages, while those less at fault may recover a reduced amount. Individuals affected by property damage, injury, or losses connected to this incident generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury claim and four years for property damage claims under Georgia's statutes of limitations. Potential compensation may include medical expenses, lost wages, property repair or replacement, and pain and suffering. Anyone affected should consult their insurance provider and retain documentation of any losses.

Related Resources

• Hall County Sheriff's Office – Non-emergency line for incident reports and crash documentation: (770) 536-8812
• Georgia State Patrol / Department of Public Safety, Motor Carrier Compliance Division – Oversees commercial vehicle safety enforcement and investigations
• Hall County Emergency Management Agency – Local emergency response and public safety coordination
• Northeast Georgia Medical Center (Gainesville) – Regional hospital serving Hall County for emergency treatment
• Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) – gahighwaysafety.org – Traffic safety resources and statistics
• Official Code of Georgia, Title 40 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic) – legis.ga.gov – State traffic laws and regulations
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) – fmcsa.dot.gov – Commercial vehicle safety regulations, including driver hours-of-service rules