Three Vehicle Accidents in Rain

Last Wednesday, March 9, a three-vehicle accident (left photo) tied up traffic on Hwy. 83 north just outside the city limits for a considerable time. All three vehicles were heading north behind one another. The lead vehicle was Ronald Kindle of Covington who was driving a septic truck.

He was followed by Robert Smith of Coward S.C. in a 2007 Freightliner. Behind them was Haskell Hawkins of Walhalla, S.C. driving a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer.

According to the report from the Georgia State Patrol, the septic truck was preparing to turn right and had his turn signal activated when the Trailblazer attempted to pass the Freightliner in a no passing zone. As the trailblazer was passing the Freightliner, it too pulled into the southbound lane to pass the septic truck. As the Freightliner entered the southbound lane, it struck the right side of the Trailblazer with its left front wheel and bumper. The initial impact and momentum of the Trailblazer caused it to travel in front of the Freightliner and back into the northbound lane where it struck the trailer being pulled by the septic truck.

That caused the driver of the septic truck to lose control, travel through the intersection and onto the unpaved eastern shoulder. Finally all three vehicles stopped on the eastern shoulder.

On Tuesday, March 15, another three-vehicle accident occurred, this one at the intersection of Hwy. 212 west and Jackson Lake Road.

This one involved a 2009 Buick Lacrosse driven by Clara Rainwater of Fairburn, a 2005 Chevy Avalanche driven by Maribel Lowe of Mansfield, and a 2004 Mercedes Benz driven by Brooks Wallace of Milledgeville.

Ms. Rainwater allegedly ran the stop sign on Hwy. 212 as Ms. Lowe began to cross Hwy. 212. Ms. Rainwater’s vehicle struck Ms. Lowe’s vehicle, then struck Mr. Wallace’s vehicle. Traffic was re-routed through the parking lot of Larry’s 4-Way.