A Greenville, S.C. truck driver is facing a second-degree vehicular manslaughter charge in a horrific, fatal accident earlier this month on I-85 in Gwinnett County.

Thomas Caldwell, 67, also was charged with making an unsafe lane change in the July 8 accident, Gwinnett police said Friday.

Caldwell’s tractor-trailer was traveling south on I-85 near Steve Reynolds Boulevard when he changed lanes, forcing a Nissan Pathfinder, carrying four family members, out of its lane and into another truck, police said.

The Pathfinder left the road, struck a steep hill between I-85 and the Steve Reynolds ramp and flipped over several times before coming to rest on the ramp, investigators said.

A front-seat passenger, Rabia Adnan, 32, of Duluth, was thrown from the Nissan and later died. Her two children, ages 7 and 4, were taken to the hospital but later released to their father, who was the driver.

Caldwell did not stop, but police did not charge him with hit-and-run, police said.

A police spokesman said Friday that, while investigators concluded that Caldwell caused the accident by making an unsafe lane change, they found no evidence that his tractor-trailer struck the Nissan Pathfinder.

Caldwell turned himself in Thursday and has been released on bond.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Customers view fireworks from atop the Ponce City Market.

Credit: Zaire Breedlove

Featured

UPS driver Dan Partyka delivers an overnight package. As more people buy more goods online, the rapid and unrelenting expansion of e-commerce is causing real challenges for the Sandy-Springs based company. (Bob Andres/AJC 2022)

Credit: TNS