2 killed, 3 injured in 5-vehicle crash on Fort Argyle Road

CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - The Georgia State Patrol is investigating a fatal five-vehicle crash that shut down a portion of Georgia Highway 204 at Fort Argyle Road in Chatham County on Thursday, leaving two people dead and three others injured, according to law enforcement officials.

Troopers with the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) Post 42 in Rincon and officers with Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (CVE), along with the Chatham County Police Department, responded to the scene in front of 450 Argyle Road at Nine Line Apparel.

According to a preliminary crash report, a tractor-trailer traveling eastbound on GA 204 was following a Subaru when it failed to maintain its lane and crossed the center line. Investigators said the truck sideswiped the Subaru, and the trailer also struck a Mazda. The tractor-trailer then continued across into the westbound lanes, where it collided head-on with a Ford Flex. After the impact, the Mazda crossed into the westbound lanes and struck a Chevrolet, causing additional damage.

Authorities said both the tractor-trailer and the Ford Flex became engulfed in flames following the collision. Emergency officials also reported at least one person was trapped inside a vehicle and that there was at least one ejection involved in the crash.

Officials identified the victims as 74-year-old Willie Robinson of Statesboro, and 27-year-old Alexandera Thomas, of Dalton, GA. Officials said three other people were injured, with at least some suffering serious injuries.

The family of Thomas have created a GoFundMe fundraiser to help family members who were involved in the crash.

WTOC spoke with a witness who was on the scene.

John Bohannon who works at Nine Line Apparel says his heart breaks for the families but he is also proud of his team who sprung into action.

“We didn’t have to discuss it,” he said. “Nobody had to tell them to go help. They just rushed in and were able to save some lives.”

Chatham Emergency Services dispatched four ambulances, three quick-response paramedic units and two medical helicopters to the scene. Fire crews with the Savannah Fire Department arrived around 3:50 p.m. and brought multiple vehicle fires under control by about 4:06 p.m., according to the Savannah Fire Department.

Six people in total were taken to a trauma center at a local hospital, according to the Chatham County EMS spokesperson. Two helicopters were requested by emergency services, but only one arrived. They could not fly the patient, so the flight crew joined the paramedics in the ambulance going to the hospital.

According to the same spokesperson, Chatham EMS sent two advanced paramedic teams to the hospital Thursday night to take two patients in an emergency transport to Augusta. The transports were successful, and both crews have now returned to Chatham County.

“None of these six patients would have made it safely to the hospital without the skill of our EMTs and paramedics, the fast action by dispatchers and the amazing teamwork of our fire department and law-enforcement partners,” the Chatham County EMS spokesperson said.

WTOC obtained security camera footage that captured the collision. The video shows the moments leading up to the crash and its aftermath. Viewer discretion is advised because the footage may be disturbing.

Residents who live along Fort Argyle Road said serious crashes are a recurring problem.

“Because there’s been a lot of accidents, and some of them involve dump trucks because of the speed they travel is over 55, I hope the county wakes up and maybe checks this situation out,” said nearby resident JoAnn Willingham.

All five vehicles involved were towed from the scene. A Level II inspection of the commercial vehicle was also completed on site.

Fort Argyle Road was shut down for several hours following the crash but has since reopened as investigators continue to reconstruct the sequence of events.

The GSP Troop F Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team (SCRTF) is assisting with the ongoing investigation.