Less than three weeks later and less than 30 miles away, it happened again. A Georgia high school community is grieving for two brothers killed in a wreck.
Before, it was Dacula High School. This time, it’s Jefferson High School mourning the loss of two brothers.
William J. Trimble, 17, was driving a 2006 Toyota Corolla northbound on Ga. 11 shortly after 7 p.m. Wednesday when he attempted to turn west onto Old Pendergrass Road, according to the Georgia State Patrol. But investigators believe William failed to yield, and his Toyota was hit on the passenger side by a 2006 Freightliner truck.
The impact sent both vehicles into a ditch, the GSP said. William’s passenger, his 15-year-old brother, Alexander, died at the scene. William was taken to Athens Regional Medical Center, where he died Thursday morning, according to the Jackson County coroner.
The driver of the truck, Michael H. Vandiver, 44, also from Jefferson, was also injured and transported to Athens Regional, the GSP said. His condition was not released.
Heavy rains were moving through Jackson County at the time of the wreck, Public Safety Director Steve Nichols said.
“There is a good possibility rain played a factor,” Nichols said Thursday afternoon. “That’s a pretty bad intersection anyway. There’s a lot of mistakes made there.”
On Oct. 30, Jared and Jaison Brown were on their way to Dacula High School when they were involved in a wreck on Ga. 316 at Harbins Road.
Investigators believe Jared, 17, was driving a red 1992 Honda Accord eastbound on Ga. 316 with his younger brother, 15-year-old Jaison, in the passenger seat, Gwinnett police previously said. Jared Brown was attempting to turn left onto Harbins Road when he turned into the path of a Chrysler PT Cruiser, driven by Richard Ford of Bethlehem.
Thursday morning, family members of Tripp Halstead, a Jefferson boy who was injured more than two years ago by a falling tree limb, asked the Ride to Give charity for help setting up a fundraiser for the Trimble family. Those wishing to donate to the fund can do so online at https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/714gd7/ab/61eX82
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