Center Wreck Claims One Life

mrandolphadvance@gmail.com

An afternoon wreck in Center took the life of one man on Saturday, November 2.

Toombs County first responders were dispatched to the intersection of Lyons Center Road and Georgia Highway 15 at 1:58 p.m. on November 2 in reference to an automobile accident. Upon arrival, deputies found a semistyle debris removal truck – driven by Justin Rodgers, 36, of Arkansas – in the ditch beside the northbound lane of the highway. A Nissan Altima – driven by Authur Lee Sims, 66, of Texas – was found entrapped under the front of the truck. Sims succumbed to his injuries immediately after the crash while Rodgers was unharmed.

The Georgia State Patrol Post 18 – Reidsville is investigating the crash. Based on preliminary evidence, troopers believe that Rodgers was driving south on the highway while Sims was going eastbound along Lyons Center Road. When approaching the intersection, which is a two-way stop, Sims appears to have only slowed at the intersection’s stop sign rather than coming to a complete stop, making him enter the intersection at a slow rate of speed at the same time as Rodgers. Rodgers hit the brakes and tried to avoid hitting Sims, but the vehicles collided in the middle of the intersection before going into the ditch.

The collision is still under investigation.