Man Killed in Car Wreck

A Monticello native who was expected at Thanksgiving festivities with his family here was fatally injured in a vehicle crash last Wednesday afternoon, the day before Thanksgiving.

Marcello LaVaughn, 25, was headed southbound toward Monticello on Hwy. 36 when he slowed to turn left into a recycling facility, according to Georgia State Patrol Sgt. Frank Phirman, who investigated.

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A Ford Ranger driven by Alan Roberts, 46, of Mansfield struck Mr. LaVaughn’s truck from behind.

The impact knocked the truck into an oncoming Ford Expedition reportedly occupied by a Newton County family. Occupants of that vehicle apparently escaped serious injury Mr. LaVaughn sustained neck and chest injuries. He was evacuated by helicopter to Atlanta Medical Center where he died later in the day.

Sgt. Phirman said that Mr. Roberts would face charges, including following too closely and possibly vehicular homicide, second degree.

Mr. LaVaughn reportedly was taking trash to the recycling center from the site of a house he was building for his family on Hwy. 36, some distance north of the crash scene. The accident occurred a couple of miles north of the Hwy. 36-212 intersection.