Potentially deadly crash spares drivers

Local News

November 5, 2008

Beth Alston

BUENA VISTA — What could have been a major three-vehicle traffic crash on a bridge in rural Marion County turned out to only damage the vehicles involved.

According to SFC Marc Ellis, commander of Georgia State Patrol Post 10, who investigated, the accident occurred at 7:50 a.m. Wednesday on Ga. Highway 26, four miles west of Buena Vista at the bridge over the Kinchafoonee Creek.

A Caterpillar motor-grader, driven by Charles Welch, 75, of Buena Vista, was traveling west with Charlie Smith, 53, of Butler, driving a 1998 Freightliner, hauling a load of wood chips, traveling behind the piece of heavy equipment.

Meanwhile, Michael Lewis, 38, of Lilburn, driving a 2001 Freightliner, hauling a container, was traveling east on 26.

Just as the motor-grader and Smith’s Freightliner drove between the guardrails of the bridge, Smith said he couldn’t stop and struck the motor-grader from behind, causing both vehicles to cross the center line into the eastbound lane of traffic.

Ellis said the two Freightliners actually sideswiped each other.

The motor-grader traveled onto the south shoulder and came to a rest. The two Freightliners came to rest on the bridge. Smith’s rig was partially jack knifed, Ellis said.

“It lost about 80 gallons of diesel fuel,” he said.

The only injury reported was Welch, who complained of back pain but was not transported for medical attention.

“There were three angels flying around that bridge this morning,” Ellis said.

Smith is charged with following too closely.

Ellis said the bridge was closed for about three hours until cleanup was complete.