PORT WENTWORTH, GEORGIA (July 25, 2025) – A woman identified as Kelly Sullivan has tragically died in a Port Wentworth log truck accident in front of the International Paper Mill on GA 25.
Chatham County officials are saying that the accident took place around 3:00 p.m. on Monday. A log truck attempted to make a left turn into International Paper Mill when it turned directly into the path of a BMW driven by Kelly Sullivan.
The BMW driver eventually left the roadway and collided with a tree. Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision to help the victim.
Kelly Sullivan was transported to Memorial Hospital with critical injuries. She was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
It remains unclear if the truck driver will face any citations for the fatal crash. A full investigation remains ongoing.
Commercial trucks can be incredibly dangerous for people in passenger vehicles. Among other things, they have large blind spots that can obscure the presence of other vehicles. According to the FMCSA, from 2020 to 2021, “[t]he number of large trucks involved in fatal crashes increased 18 percent, from 4,821 to 5,700, and the large truck involvement rate (large trucks involved in fatal crashes per 100 million miles traveled by large trucks) increased 8 percent, from 1.62 to 1.74.” Truck drivers should take several measures to avoid collisions.
Truck drivers are required to get a commercial license and must operate with an abundance of caution to avoid collisions. Many truck accidents are caused by truck drivers that make dangerous left turns into the path of other vehicles. According to GA Code § 40-6-71, the driver of a vehicle intending to turn left into an intersection or alley shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching from the opposite direction that are close enough to pose a hazard. If a truck driver turns into the path of another vehicle, they could be held at fault through a civil claim.
Depending on the unique facts of any case, there could be numerous sources of liability for any truck accident. This could include the trucking company that employed the truck driver involved in a collision. Employers in Georgia are vicariously liable for the wrongful actions of their employees. It could also include the company responsible for maintaining a truck. Missing reflectors or malfunctioning safety equipment could easily contribute to an accident. Certain steps should be taken after any truck accident in Georgia.
Truck accidents are often highly preventable. They tend to be the result of truck drivers that commit traffic infractions. This may be the result of inexperience, fatigue, or several other factors. Some studies have shown that roughly 1 in 10 truck drivers involved in a fatal collision reported feeling under pressure from their carrier. People are more likely to make serious mistakes when they are rushing from one destination to the next. It is essential that the circumstances of any truck accident are properly understood.
We at Butler Kahn extend our deepest condolences to the family of Kelly Sullivan. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to authorities. This was a preventable tragedy that should have never taken place. Any person with more information should reach out to the police. Many questions remain unanswered.
Do you need more information about a Port Wentworth truck accident? Our team of truck accident investigators is here to help in any way that we can. We are intimately familiar with all truck accident laws and regulations in Georgia. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 678-940-1444.
