Driver Indicted in Accident That Claimed Teen’s Life

The driver in a March 3 accident that claimed the life of a local teenager has been indicted.

The Toombs County Grand Jury, meeting for the first time in several months due to COVID-19 restrictions, on November 24 returned a true bill for the indictment of Josue Ramon Escalera on one count of homicide by vehicle in the first degree and one count of reckless driving, Middle Judicial Circuit District Attorney Tripp Fitzner confirmed. Escalera was operating a late model Mustang in which continued from page

Julio Almanza-Garcia was a passenger when the fatal accident occurred. The Georgia State Patrol, which investigated the mishap, concluded that the vehicle was traveling close to 100 miles per hour when it veered off of Airport Road at Sweet Onion Drive and collided with a large pine tree. The speed limit in this area is 35 miles per hour.

Almanza-Garcia died at the scene and Escalera was seriously injured in the accident and airlifted to Savannah for treatment.

Almanza-Garcia, 16, was a junior at Toombs County High School where he played football for the Toombs County Bulldogs and was active in soccer and other schoolrelated activities.