Columbia County authorities have identified the two people killed in Monday’s head-on collision as a Martinez man and his step-daughter. Charges are pending against the driver who crossed into their lane and struck them.
William Swint, 68, and his step-daughter, January Hartley, 42, both of Martinez, were pronounced dead at the scene, according to a report from the sheriff’s office. Swint was driving, and Hartley was his passenger.
The driver at fault, 50-year-old Willie James Wilson of Appling, remains hospitalized at Doctors Hospital. Charges against him are expected once he is released, said Sheriff’s Maj. Steve Morris. His mugshot has not been taken.
The incident began around 5:45 p.m. Monday on Washington Road near Old Evans Road, when Wilson rear-ended a Mitsubishi Outlander driven by 26-year-old Taylor Normington. Despite the initial collision, Wilson continued driving.
Further down Washington Road near Casa Linda Drive, Wilson veered into oncoming traffic and struck a 2004 Ford Focus head-on. The impact caused the Focus to overturn and crash into the driver’s side of a red Kia Forte driven by 33-year-old Shanequa Freeman of Augusta. Freeman was taken to Doctors Hospital for treatment.
Swint and Hartley, who were in the Ford Focus, died at the scene. Their vehicle came to rest on its driver side.
Authorities say Wilson was traveling at a high rate of speed. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate the circumstances of the crash.
