Loose trailer injures 2 men on I-20, DeKalb police looking for owner
Truck driver injured in I-20 hit-and-run
A DeKalb County man is recovering after a runaway trailer crashed into him along Interstate 20 West, and investigators are urging the public to help identify the hit-and-run driver who kept going.
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - A DeKalb County man is recovering after a runaway trailer crashed into him along Interstate 20 West, and investigators are urging the public to help identify the hit-and-run driver who kept going.
Truck driver injured in I-20 hit-and-run
What we know:
Scott Watkins, a truck driver for the film industry, remains hospitalized at Grady Memorial Hospital after suffering severe trauma when a trailer detached from a passing pickup truck and slammed into him and a coworker near Wesley Chapel Road on Oct. 14 just before 12:30 p.m.
Watkins had stopped on the shoulder to re-secure his own flatbed trailer and had briefly stepped to his cab to get equipment.
DeKalb County police say the driver of the pickup that lost the trailer never stopped. The coworker beside Scott suffered broken ribs and a broken leg and has since been released from the hospital.
Scott’s injuries were extensive, with six broken ribs, a broken left arm, broken legs, and organ complications so severe that doctors initially warned the family he might not survive the first 24 hours.
Courtesy of DeKalb County Police Department
Family of Scott Watkins
What they're saying:
"By the time he turned around, another trailer had come loose from another pickup truck from I-20 and hit him from behind, slung him over into the side. Shattered his legs," his son, Bobby Watkins, said.
"When we got here, we didn’t know if he was dead or alive," Bobby added.
"We didn’t think he was going to make it," Bobby said.
In a dramatic turnaround, Bobby says, "he’s off the ventilator, he’s off dialysis, he’s off the feeding tube. Everything is on the up-and-up right now."
He is now pleading for the driver responsible, or anyone who witnessed the crash, to call police.
"My father would greatly appreciate it, my family would greatly appreciate it," Bobby said.
DeKalb County Police investigating
What we don't know:
Investigators have not said who was driving the pickup that lost the trailer along I-20, or whether the driver even realized the trailer had detached before leaving the scene.
It is not yet known if any traffic or security cameras along the interstate captured the crash, or if nearby drivers witnessed what happened.
Police have also not disclosed whether the trailer met required safety standards or if it was improperly secured before it separated from the truck.
Investigators have not said whether they have any leads on a vehicle description or timeline beyond the initial impact.
What's next:
Bobby says his dad still faces multiple surgeries ahead, but for the first time, his recovery appears promising.
What you can do:
Anyone with information is urged to contact the DeKalb County Police Department Traffic Specialist Unit at 770-724-7610. Anonymous tips can be shared through the Tip411 app or by texting "DKPD" to 847411 followed by the information.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the family.