The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office investigated a traffic accident that occurred
just after 11:00AM today on Interstate 16 west between Ocmulgee East Boulevard and Coliseum Drive. It was reported that a 2000 International Tractor Trailer, driven by 46 year old Terry McCollum of Statesboro Georgia was traveling westbound on I-16 in the right lane. He stated he saw traffic slowing down and changed lanes to the left lane. As he entered the left lane he saw the traffic in the left lane was stopped. McCollum applied the brakes and turned into the guardrail on the left side of the westbound lanes. The impact with the guardrail threw his vehicle back into the westbound lanes.
McCollum struck a 2010 Nissan Sentra driven by 54 year old Arthur Parker of Thomaston Georgia. Parker was stopped in the left westbound lane. McCollum’s vehicle continued west striking a 2011 Lincoln MKS driven by 70 year old Maerina Wiggins of Gordon Georgia. Wiggins was in the right westbound lane stopped. Parker’s vehicle was also knocked into Wiggin’s vehicle. McCollum’s vehicle also struck a 2005 Toyota Tundra driven by 33 year old Michael Freeman of Macon (stopped in the right westbound lane), a 2006 Nissan Maxima driven by 58 year old Gerald Jones of Macon (stopped in the right westbound lane), a 2003 International Truck driven by 58 year old Franklin Lindsey of College Park Georgia (stopped in the right westbound lane) and a 2013 Nissan Sentra driven by 24 year old Maria Lopez of Warner Robins Georgia (stopped in the right westbound lane). Freeman’s vehicle was knocked into Lopez’s vehicle. Jones stated that McCollum’s vehicle traveled in between the right and left westbound lanes striking all the vehicles involved in this accident.
Parker, Wiggins and Lindsey all had complaints of injuries. Parker and Wiggins were transported to the Navicent Center by ambulance. Lindsey was taken by private party to a local hospital to be checked. The accident report reflected that McCollum contributed to the accident occurring.
The accident is currently under investigation. Anyone with information in reference to this accident is urged to contact the Bibb Sheriff’s Office at 478-751-7500 and ask to leave a message for the on call accident investigator.