HOMER — A collision between a small car and a dump truck claimed the life of a Clayton man and seriously injured his passenger Thursday afternoon in Banks County.
The wreck happened at the intersection of Ga. 198 and Ga. 63 beside Patel's Grocery near the Franklin County line.
A white 2006 Toyota Corolla driven by 27-year-old Zachary Beck of Clayton was traveling northbound on Ga. 63 approaching a stop sign at the intersection of Ga. 198, said Cpl. Auston Allen of Georgia State Patrol Post 6.
A 1994 Ford dump truck driven by Frank Perez, 46, of Carnesville was traveling eastbound on Ga. 198 approaching the intersection of Ga. 63, Allen said.
Beck then began turning left onto Ga. 198 and entered the eastbound lane in front of the dump truck, Allen said.
Perez swerved to the left and locked the dump truck's brakes, crossing the centerline into the westbound lane in an attempt to avoid striking the car, Allen said. As the Toyota entered the westbound lane in front of the dump truck, the truck then struck the left side of the car.
Impact sent the car out of control into a sign, across Ga. 63, through a private yard, across Ga. 198 and into a fence, where it became entangled, officials at the scene said.
Beck died at the scene.
Beck's passenger, Joshua Wagner, 26, of Loganville, was airlifted from the scene by AirLife Georgia 2. He remained in critical condition at Northeast Georgia Medical Center Thursday night, Allen said.
Perez was not hurt.
The wreck shut down the intersection for an extended time while GSP and Georgia Department of Public Safety Motor Carrier Compliance Division officers investigated the crash.
No charges have been filed, Allen said Thursday night.
