Two killed, three injured in five-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.

The Chatham County coroner identified one of the victims as 74-year-old Willie Roberson of Statesboro. The identity of the second person killed has not yet been released. Officials said three other people were injured, with at least some suffering serious injuries.

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.

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.