A Newnan teenager was killed early Tuesday when his SUV left the roadway, struck a tree and caught on fire, authorities said.
Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the single-vehicle crash, which occurred about 4 a.m. on Redwine Plantation Drive, according to the Georgia State Patrol.
According to investigators, 16-year-old Walker Barnes left home in his 1996 Jeep Cherokee. At some point, the teen turned around and headed back toward his house.
He was traveling west on Redwine Plantation Drive when the Jeep ran off the left side of the road, striking a median and an oak tree. After the collision, the SUV caught on fire and burned. Barnes was pronounced dead at the scene, investigators said.
“Preliminary findings at the scene indicate that speed and alcohol were contributing factors,” GSP said in a statement.
Toxicology reports are pending, and the fatal crash is still being investigated, authorities said.
No other details were released.
In other news:
Credit: AJC
About the Author
