PORT WENTWORTH, Chatham County, Ga., Oct. 11, 2026 — Eight people were taken to a hospital after a three-vehicle crash set an SUV on fire on Friday morning, October 9, on I-95 in Port Wentworth. Two children were among those hurt, according to the Georgia State Patrol.
Troopers said the crash started around 6:44 a.m. in the southbound lanes after a Toyota Tacoma broke down on the median shoulder with what investigators described as an electrical problem. The driver reportedly believed the issue was resolved and tried to pull back onto the highway, but the truck lost power again while partially in the center lane.
A Chevrolet Tahoe traveling southbound in that center lane then struck the Tacoma's passenger side. The impact pushed the Tahoe into the right lane, where it collided with a tractor-trailer. Both the Tahoe and the tractor-trailer then crossed into the median and hit the guardrail, according to troopers.
The Tahoe caught fire after the crash. Occupants reportedly got out before the vehicle was fully engulfed. All eight people hurt, from the Tacoma and the Tahoe, were taken to a hospital in Savannah, Georgia, for treatment. Details on their conditions have not been released.
All three vehicles sustained disabling damage, and the crash remains under investigation, according to the state patrol.
We hope those who were hurt recover fully and quickly.
Where Multi-Vehicle Pileups Tend to Start
Chain-reaction crashes like this one usually begin with a single stalled or slow-moving vehicle on a high-speed highway. Interstates carry fast, dense traffic with little room for a driver to react when something unexpected, like a disabled vehicle partly blocking a lane, suddenly appears ahead.
Stretches near on-ramps, shoulders, and medians see a disproportionate number of these pileups because vehicles are merging, slowing, or re-entering traffic in spots where following drivers do not expect sudden stops. A vehicle that drifts from a shoulder into a travel lane, even briefly, can trigger a sequence of impacts among vehicles traveling close together at highway speed.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 17,008 motor-vehicle crash deaths occurred outside passenger vehicles in crashes involving passenger vehicles in 2023. That figure includes people struck after leaving a disabled vehicle or walking near a roadway, a risk that rises whenever a breakdown happens on an active highway shoulder.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes crashes involving several vehicles hard to investigate?
Investigators have to reconstruct the order of impacts, figure out which vehicle struck which and when, and account for mechanical issues, road conditions, and driver actions that may have combined to start the chain reaction.
What typically causes chain-reaction crashes on highways?
They usually start with one vehicle slowing, stopping, or losing control, then a following vehicle strikes it and is pushed into another lane or vehicle, multiplying the damage within seconds.
How can drivers avoid getting caught in a pileup?
Keeping a safe following distance, staying alert for stopped or slow vehicles ahead, and moving out of a travel lane immediately if your own vehicle has trouble can reduce the chance of becoming part of a chain-reaction crash.
What to Do After a Multi-Vehicle Crash in Port Wentworth, GA
If you're involved in a crash with multiple vehicles, try to move to a safe area away from traffic if your vehicle is drivable and it's safe to do so. Call 911 right away and let dispatchers know how many vehicles and people are involved so responders can prepare.
Even if you feel fine, it's worth getting checked by a medical professional. Adrenaline can mask pain from an impact, and some injuries, especially from secondary collisions, take hours to show symptoms. Keep a copy of the police report and any paperwork from the scene, and follow up with your insurance company promptly.
