MIDWAY, GA — Traffic is moving again on Interstate 95 near Sunbury Road in Midway after a deadly crash Wednesday afternoon shut down southbound lanes in Liberty County, according to the Georgia State Patrol and the Georgia Department of Transportation.
Officials said the driver who died was 59-year-old Julie Hilliard of Midway. She was behind the wheel of a 2026 Mercedes GLS when it hit the back of a tractor trailer parked on the shoulder of the interstate.
Hilliard was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said.
Crash closed southbound I-95 near mile marker 79
GDOT issued a traffic alert saying all southbound lanes were blocked near Sunbury Road at mile marker 79 after the wreck. The shutdown affected a busy stretch of I-95 in coastal Georgia and forced drivers to look for other routes through the area.
A Georgia State Patrol trooper said the woman’s vehicle struck the rear of the tractor trailer, which was parked on the shoulder. Officials have not said why the truck was stopped there or whether any other vehicles were involved.
Authorities urged motorists to avoid the southbound lanes near the crash scene while crews worked the area and traffic built up behind the closure.
Identity of the driver released by officials
Later in the day, officials identified the woman killed in the crash as Julie Hilliard of Midway. They said she was 59 years old and driving the Mercedes GLS when the collision happened.
The identification added clarity to a crash that had initially been described only as a deadly wreck involving a woman and a tractor trailer on the shoulder of the interstate. No additional details were released about her travel plans or what led up to the impact.
Authorities have not announced any charges in connection with the crash.
Traffic began moving again near Sunbury Road
By about 7:10 p.m., Georgia State Patrol said traffic was moving again on I-95 near Sunbury Road in Midway. GDOT had earlier estimated the roadway might reopen around 7:03 p.m., though that timing could change as crews finished their work.
The reopening came after several hours of disruption on the southbound side of the interstate. Drivers in the area were advised to use alternate routes while the roadway remained blocked.
The crash was still being described as a developing incident as lanes reopened and officials continued to manage the scene.
What officials said about the crash scene
State officials said the tractor trailer was parked on the shoulder of the highway when Hilliard’s Mercedes struck it from behind. That detail was central to the initial description of the wreck provided by the Georgia State Patrol.
Because the vehicle was stopped on the shoulder, investigators will likely focus on how the collision occurred and whether roadside conditions played any role. Officials have not publicly said whether speed, distraction, mechanical failure, or another factor contributed.
The location, mile marker 77 to 79 near Sunbury Road, placed the crash in a section of I-95 where even brief closures can affect long-distance travel through Liberty County.
A deadly wreck that briefly tied up a major coastal route
The fatal crash briefly turned one of Georgia’s major north-south highways into a bottleneck for southbound travelers near Midway. I-95 carries heavy traffic through the coastal region, so even a single-lane or full shutdown can create delays beyond the immediate scene.
For now, officials have confirmed only the basic facts: one woman died, the tractor trailer was on the shoulder, and lanes later reopened. The Georgia State Patrol has not released any further update on the investigation.
Drivers passing through the area Wednesday evening were able to resume normal travel once traffic started moving again.