Liberty County police are investigating a deadly crash they believe was caused by individuals who stole a car, fled police and collided with a vehicle head-on over the weekend.
Authorities believe the crash, which happened about 2 p.m. Saturday on Leroy Coffer Highway near Highway 196 East in Midway, was caused by individuals attempting to escape police after stealing a Nissan Sentra, Georgia State Patrol officials told ABC news station WJCL. A Liberty County deputy's license plate reader detected the tags of the vehicle as a stolen car from Chatham County.
The crash occurred when deputies turned on their patrol lights to make a traffic stop. The suspect responded by turning the vehicle in the opposite direction on the highway, colliding head-on with a driver in an Audi. The Nissan flipped and hit a guardrail upon contact, and the three in the vehicle reportedly were killed instantly.
The driver of the Audi was transported to Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to GSP Trooper Brandon Smith. He was identified as Sgt. 1st Class Jimmy Altamirano, according to WTOC 11. He was stationed at Fort Stewart, a representative confirmed earlier this week.
State patrol officials have identified the occupants of the Nissan as Jonathan Kennedy, 19, of Savannah, passenger Alie Dossey, 40, of Midway and Thomas Gordon, 32, of Savannah.
The crash is still under investigation.
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