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- Glenneville Sentinel August 8, 2002
Two Killed In Fiery Crash On 301
All three vehicles involved consumed by flames
by Pam Watersand Sarah Reed Tattnall Countians were stunned by a tragic accident that occurred around 3:20 p.m. on Tuesday, August 6, near Catfish Creek Golf Driving Range on Highway 301. The crash is believed to have been caused when a 2002 Ford Explorer, traveling south on 301, swerved across the center line and struck a northbound Fries Farms truck head-on. The Explorer flipped three times before coming to rest sideways in the middle of 301, according to the Georgia State Patrol. Emergency personnel surmised that the occupants of the Explorer, a man and a woman, probably died from the impact, but the couple were still in the vehicle when it exploded into flames just moments after the crash, according to eye witnesses. The driver of the Fries Farms truck, a 25-year-old Reidsville man, managed to exit the cab and was dragged to safety by several Hispanics who were walking through a nearby field when the accident occurred, stated one witness. Emergency personnel found the truck driver dazed and slightly injured about 100 yards away from the accident scene, but safe from the flames that quickly engulfed his truck. A 2000 Chrysler minivan traveling south behind the Explorer was unable to avoid the collision and was struck, landing in the northbound ditch. The passengers of the minivan, a couple, Maria Mancia, 44, and Lazaro Mancia, 45, of Glennville, along with the truck driver, were transported by ambulance to Evans Memorial Hospital to be treated for minor injuries and were released. The minivan was also completely destroyed by fire. An 18-wheeler heading north on 301, driven by Emanuel Pough of Orangeburg, South Carolina, pulled over to help the victims shortly after the collision. His truck narrowly escaped the flames that leapt from the three wrecked vehicles. The Explorer had a Florida license plate and is registered to a 72-year-old Florida resident, said Georgia State Patrol officials, but the age and identities of those killed will not be released until the family members have been notified. Because of the intense heat of the fire, law enforcement had few clues as to the couple's identity but were pursuing several leads at presstime. "This is the worst accident I have ever seen," said one emergency worker.
Names released of double fatality victims
Authorities released the identity of the victims in Tuesday's deadly accident in Tattnall County.
Edith Lynn Luther and Harry Luther Hoover, of Summerfield, Fla., were killed about 3:20 p.m. on U.S. 301 north of Glennville, near Claxton, Georgia State Patrol troopers said.
Edith Hoover, 68, was driving a 2002 Ford Explorer southbound when the vehicle drifted into the northbound lane, troopers said.
Her 81-year-old husband was in the front passenger seat.
The vehicle slammed into an oncoming Kenworth truck. A northbound 2002 Chrysler Voyager van hit the truck from behind.
All three vehicles caught on fire.
The Hoovers died at the scene, troopers said. Three people in the other vehicles were treated and released at Claxton Memorial Hospital.
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House of Hackett
1934 - 2002 (68 years)