A 34-year-old truck driver has died in a tragic accident Saturday morning, June 21, 2025 at the El Cheapo gas station on Highway 301 South in Bulloch County. The incident occurred just south of Interstate 16, across from the TA Travel Center.
Bulloch County emergency services were dispatched to the El Cheapo, located at 2925 Hwy. 301 South at 8:15 am, following a report of a truck fire. The first responders arriving on the scene found a male individual lying near a tractor-trailer that was engulfed in flames. Authorities also noted the dangerous presence of high-voltage power lines in contact with the truck.
Firefighters worked swiftly to secure the scene and began providing emergency medical treatment to the driver. He was then transported to East Georgia Regional Medical Center (EGRMC) by Bulloch County EMS, where he later succumbed to his injuries, according to Bulloch County Coroner Chuck Francis.
Coroner Francis identified the deceased as Carlos Alberto Olmeda Hernandez, age 34. His city of residence is currently unknown at this time. The coroner confirmed that Hernandez was a legal resident of the United States and that his family has been notified of his passing. The tractor-trailer Hernandez was operating belonged to a trucking company based in Vidalia, Georgia.
Due to the intensity of the blaze, fire command requested additional firefighting personnel and tanker trucks to assist in battling the fire, which involved both the semi-truck and its cargo of wood chips. Firefighters successfully contained the fire within minutes, but remained on the scene for several hours to ensure complete extinguishment.
Coroner Francis has requested the assistance of the Bulloch County Sheriff's Department in investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident. Sheriff's Investigator Reed Odom is working alongside the Coroner in the investigation.
Preliminary findings suggest that Hernandez had stopped at the gas station and may have noticed that the cover on his wood chip load was not properly secured. It appears that while attempting to operate the cover mechanism, Hernandez was unaware that his vehicle was parked directly beneath high-voltage power lines. When the cover made contact with the lines, he received a significant electrical shock, which is believed to have ignited the truck.
The El Cheapo gas station was forced to close for several hours following the incident due to a power outage. Power was restored by EMC after the investigation was completed.
Grice Connect extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Carlos Alberto Olmeda Hernandez during this incredibly difficult time.