Four Dies in Fiery Crash

Four people died last Thursday in a fiery two-vehicle crash on the Lumber City Highway not far outside the city limits of Hazlehurst.
According a Georgia State Patrol Accident Report, Nicholas Russ Coleman, 26, of Lumber City, was driving a 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche north on State Route 27 (Lumber City Highway) in the right lane and Jason Brian Goodwin, 51, of Elgin, S.C., was traveling south in a 2007 tractor trailer rig. Coleman failed to maintain his lane of travel by crossing the center lane/turning lane, entered the southbound lanes and struck Goodwin’s rig head-on. Before impact, Goodwin’s rig skidded approximately 51 ft.
After impact, Coleman’s vehicle overturned, flipped side over side for approximately 85 ft. from the area of impact. Coleman’s vehicle came to a final uncontrolled rest on the highway in the right northbound lane, on its left side with its front end facing west. The tractor trailer rig continued to travel 53 ft., entered the west shoulder, traveled approximately 30 ft. on the west shoulder before coming to an uncontrolled rest in the west ditch of the highway with its front end facing south.
Both drivers died at the scene as did two passengers in Coleman’s vehicle — Tinsley Caroline Coleman, 2, and Stetson Russ Coleman, 15 months.