MONROE COUNTY, Ga. — The Monroe County community is mourning the tragic loss of Tomiyia Jean Smith, 47, who was killed Monday evening in a devastating traffic crash on Interstate 75 in Monroe County, Georgia. The fatal collision has left family members grieving and a young child fighting for his life, casting a heavy shadow over the area.
According to Monroe County Coroner Mark Goolsby, Smith was pronounced dead at approximately 8:30 p.m. following the crash near mile marker 188 in Forsyth. Authorities said Smith was driving a Volkswagen mini-SUV northbound on I-75 when her vehicle struck the rear of a flatbed trailer that was parked on the right shoulder of the interstate.
Investigators said Smith’s vehicle went underneath the parked 18-wheeler trailer, causing catastrophic damage. Emergency crews responded quickly, but Smith suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The circumstances leading up to the crash remain under investigation as officials work to determine how the collision occurred.
Smith was traveling with her 9-year-old son at the time of the crash. Officials said the child was seriously injured and was airlifted by helicopter to Egleston Children’s Hospital in Atlanta for emergency treatment. As of the latest update, the boy remains in critical condition, and his condition has deeply concerned both first responders and members of the community.
Investigators noted that the driver of the truck attached to the flatbed trailer was not present at the scene when the crash occurred. Authorities also confirmed that another individual was working on the parked vehicle at the time of the collision. That person was not injured in the crash. Officials have not said whether the parked truck was properly marked or lit, as those details are part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities confirmed that Smith and her son were residents of Ohio. The Georgia State Patrol identified Smith as being from Mt. Sterling, Ohio, located about 30 minutes from downtown Columbus. They were traveling through Georgia at the time of the crash. The collision forced the closure of multiple northbound lanes of I-75 for nearly three hours, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation’s 511GA system. The Georgia State Patrol is leading the investigation with assistance from the Forsyth Police Department, and officials say more information will be released as it becomes available.
