Mother's Day Crash in East Ridge

On May 11, 2025, Mother’s Day became a nightmare for the drivers on Interstate 75 in East Ridge. An 18-wheeler crash involving seven vehicles killed three individuals, injured four others, and stopped the highway traffic for hours. The individuals who died in the crash were identified as David Higgins, Lane Smith, and Smith's young son Sawyer Smith. Smith’s wife Baleigh and daughter Brynlee were also in the vehicle and were critically injured. 

Immediately after the crash, multiple vehicles caught fire and traffic halted. The flames and smoke caught the attention of other drivers who rushed from their cars to help before the first responders arrived. Larissa Collete, a nurse, was one of the heroes who risked her life trying to save victims. She, along with other good Samaritans, grabbed water bottles, fire extinguishers, and anything else they could use to douse the flames while a group of courageous men attempted to get into the cars to rescue those stuck inside. Several were burned in the process. 

Police and fire trucks arrived at the inferno and successfully extracted several individuals from the burning vehicles and extinguished the fires. All of the surviving victims were taken to the hospital. The highway remained closed for hours as first responders secured the scene and began investigating the cause of the accident. The community immediately rallied around the victims and started a GoFundMe for the Smith family that raised over $100,000 dollars. Many also gathered to pray for the victims while they were being treated at the hospital.

The East Ridge Police claimed that Joseph Antoinier, an 18-wheeler driver, caused the crash by failing to slow down in the interstate traffic. Witnesses claimed Antoinier was speeding and driving erratically. He was arrested and charged with two counts of reckless homicide, reckless endangerment, and assault.  Antoinier worked for a small company called Valparaiso Trucking Corporation who initially claimed they were not at fault for the accident. Valparaiso was contracted with Amazon who provided a statement expressing their condolences and stating that contracted truck drivers are typically employed by other companies, and thus Amazon is not liable.

According to Tennessee Code § 29-39-102, Victims can receive a maximum of $1,000,000 in compensation for catastrophic loss. However, if the defendant is found guilty of a felony, was driving under the influence, or wrongfully evaded liability, then the limitation on compensation for non-economic damages is lifted. If found guilty of these charges, Joseph Antoinier will receive two to twelve years for the count of reckless homicide under Tennessee Code § 39-13-215, up to eleven months and twenty-nine days or a $2500 fine for reckless endangerment under TN Code § 39-13-103, and up to fifteen years for assault under TN Code § 39-13-101. 

Georgia has no limitation on compensation for victims. Georgia law sentences three to twenty years for reckless homicide under GA Code § 40-6-393, up to twelve months or a $1,000 fine for reckless endangerment under GA Code § 16-5-60, and one to twenty years in prison for assault under GA Code § 16-5-20. 

No one can predict such a horrific tragedy, but Micah Guster at Advice Law is always ready to defend those who need representation following car accidents and personal injury catastrophes. In unfortunate circumstances, you need a lawyer who cares and will fight for your case. Advice Law clients say, “Mr. Guster handled an accident case for me and couldn’t have asked for a better outcome.”

  “This was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made by hiring this firm and Micah Guster.” 

Stay safe and aware on the roads, and know that if you need legal representation, Advice Law is the firm that you can trust and the firm that cares about your situation.