InvestigateTV+: Truck blind spot crashes on the rise

(InvestigateTV) — Drivers often share the road with big rigs. InvestigateTV+ found that what trucks can’t see can take lives.

We go behind the wheel to see the dangers hidden in plain sight and how some companies are taking safety into their own hands.

Plus, as a growing demographic wants to shop secondhand, we show you how to thrift like a pro.

Investigation reveals simple mirror technology could prevent crashes, but the government doesn’t require it

More than 5,000 people are killed every year in crashes involving large trucks on America’s roadways, and the problem is getting worse. Truck crash fatalities have increased 40% in the last decade, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

In one out of every three big rig crashes, the truck driver never saw it coming because the other vehicle was in the truck’s blind spot, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Approximately 300 people are killed every year in crashes directly attributable to truck blind spots, according to federal data. Research shows blind spot detection systems could reduce these crashes by 39,000 annually, yet the federal government doesn’t require the technology.

In Georgia alone, the state experiences an average of over 4,000 large truck accidents per year, resulting in hundreds of fatalities and thousands of injuries, according to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. Congested interstates such as I-285, I-75, I-85, and I-20 are identified as hotspots for truck accidents.

Thrift shopping surges as social media brings younger shoppers to the bins

There are a lot of reasons why people enjoy thrift shopping.

Buying secondhand is a great way to save some money, and donating items can be tax-deductible.

But, do you know what happens after you drop off your donations?

It was an overwhelming first time at the bins, but also fascinating to see how they process donations and get everything into those big blue bins.

While thrifting has always been popular, it seems to be having a major moment right now, especially among a certain demographic.

Find out more by clicking here.

Influencer uses her alopecia journey to educate, push back at bullying

More than 30 million women in the U.S. experience hair loss due to some form of alopecia.

For many of these women, losing their hair feels like losing part of their identity. That’s why one Charlotte woman is turning her pain into purpose as she proudly embraces the alopecia battle to inspire others to do the same.

For nine years, social media influencer Angela Agnew grew her beautiful, long locks of hair. She was so proud of that journey. Then one day, she noticed something wasn’t quite right.

“I realized that the top was thinning a little bit, and I thought for a little while, I got lots to move placed up here, all kinds of different things to try to get past the hair thinning,” Agnew said. “Then I finally went to a specialist, and I asked her. I said, ‘Hey, what’s going on here?’”

Her diagnosis? Alopecia.

Route 66 centennial brings renewed interest to historic Rockwood Motor Court

100 years of neon signs and nostalgia remain in the rearview mirror as 2026 marks the centennial of Route 66.

The famous “Mother Road” stretched more than 2,000 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica, California, giving rise to shops, restaurants and roadside attractions along the way. It was officially decommissioned in 1985 after the completion of the interstate highway system.

A short drive from the Springfield square on West College Street, the Rockwood Motor Court keeps the heartbeat of Route 66 alive.