Three people injured in separate vehicle crashes

Billy Hobbs, The Union-Recorder, Milledgeville, Ga.
·2 min read

May 11—Three people were injured in two unrelated vehicle collisions at the intersection of the Ga. Route 49 and the West U.S. Highway 441 bypass Wednesday morning, local authorities say.

The separate crashes happened about 35 minutes apart, according to the reports released by Milledgeville Police Department Sgt. Thomas Smith III.

The first wreck happened about 7 a.m.

No one reportedly was injured in it.

Milledgeville Police Officer Brandon Adams said a 2005 Nissan Titan pickup truck driven by Alvin Burke, 53, of Milledgeville, and a 1994 Chevrolet driven by Charlie Lee, 49, of Toomsboro, collided as Burke attempted to leave the Friendly Gus parking lot.

Adams said Burke told him when he spotted an opening in the traffic flow he pulled out to travel westbound on Ga. Route 49 and did not see Lee's vehicle.

Lee told the investigating police officer that he was headed eastbound on Ga. 49 and in the turning lane while approaching the traffic signal at the intersection.

Lee said Burke's truck crossed in front of him.

In a separate two-vehicle collision just minutes later, three people reportedly were injured, according to a wreck report filed by Milledgeville Police Officer Alex Rickey.

It happened between an SUV and a car at 7:35 a.m.

The SUV, a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, was driven by Nikela Hunter, 41, of Milledgeville. The other vehicle, a 2013 Ford Edge, was driven by Brittany Thorton, 33, of Milledgeville.

A passenger in the Ford Edge, identified as Traconal Clayton, 40, of Sandersville was also reportedly injured.

A 9-year-old boy in Hunter's SUV was reportedly uninjured.

The victims were treated at the scene by firefighters/first responders with Milledgeville Fire Rescue Services and personnel with Atrium Health Navicent Emergency Medical Services.

They later were taken by ambulances to the Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin hospital in Milledgeville for further medical treatment.

Rickey said Thornton was traveling south on the bypass through the green light at the intersection of Ga. 49. Hunter was traveling northbound on the bypass at the same intersection.

Hunter attempted to make a left turn onto Ga. 49 when it was struck by Thornton's vehicle.