Passenger killed when SUV struck by tractor-trailer on Georgia State Route 21
PORT WENTWORTH, GA, (September 08, 2025) - Authorities say a 21-year-old passenger lost her life following a crash with a tractor-trailer in Port Wentworth on Monday afternoon.
Hannah Katherine Ghidotti, a passenger in an SUV, died after a crash with a semi-truck at the intersection of State Route 21 and Rice Mill Road.
According to Georgia State Patrol, Hannah Katherine Ghidotti was in an SUV heading south on Georgia State Route 21 when the vehicle attempted a left turn onto Rice Mill Road. The SUV was hit by a northbound semi-truck, which slammed into the passenger side.
Ghidotti was rushed to Savannah Memorial Hospital but tragically succumbed to her injuries.
FATAL TRACTOR-TRAILER ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
GSP’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement assisted with the investigation. As of Tuesday morning, charges are pending the investigation results.
A variety of factors can contribute to a tractor-trailer crash, including loss of control of the truck, a disabling or non-disabling vehicle failure and driver fatigue.
Candice Bond, an experienced tractor-trailer accident attorney, said in cases such as this that it's imperative to have an independent investigation conducted in a timely manner to protect the family of a victim’s rights.
“Tractor-trailer crashes are often complex, and many factors can play a role in these types of accidents,” said Bond, Managing Partner of Bond Legal and a national analyst for The Legal Advocate. “A skilled attorney can protect a grieving family from trucking companies, which often send their own investigators to crash sites and possess a variety of resources they can utilize to defend a negligent truck driver. Your lawyer can advocate for you by hiring expert witnesses, conducting driver background checks, locating witnesses to the crash and reviewing applicable insurance coverage, while carefully guiding you through the legal process.”
In Georgia in 2021, 14% of all traffic fatalities involved at least one large truck, according to data from several agencies, with 244 people fatally injured. Between 2020 and 2021, the number of traffic fatalities involving large trucks increased by 4%.
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
Pending the results of the investigation, the family of Hannah Katherine Ghidotti may be entitled to a wrongful death claim. Relatives of wrongful death victims may seek damages for loss of love and companionship, funeral expenses, pain and suffering, and emotional distress following a tragic accident such as this.
“The stress and sorrow can be extremely overwhelming after losing a loved one in an accident,” said Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal. “We understand the immense challenges families must endure, and ensuring their rights are protected is essential. A wrongful death attorney will monitor the investigation and work to safeguard the family’s best interests and legal rights.”
Candice Bond, national legal analyst for Newsline, has experience in commercial trucking accident cases. Contact her for a free consultation if you need legal support.
(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).
Tags: Latest News, Commercial, Georgia, Motor Vehicle Accident, Fatal Crash, Port Wentworth, Semi-Truck, Tractor-Trailer, SUV, Chatham County, State Route 21, Rice Mill