A Bowman man faces DUI and other charges after a wreck that seriously injured his teen passenger and another driver outside Hartwell Sunday night.
Charles Gillespie, 18, is charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving, no seatbelt, failure to maintain lane and two counts of serious injury by vehicle (felony), and possession of less than one ounce of marijuana, according to Sgt. Brian Roberts of Georgia State Patrol Post 52 in Hartwell.
Roberts said Gillespie’s 2006 Chevrolet Silverado K-1500 pickup truck was traveling east on Ga. 8 (U.S. 29/Anderson Highway) near Liberty Hill Church Road negotiating a slight left curve. The truck entered the westbound lane and struck a 1984 Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck in its left front with its left front.
Gillespie’s truck overturned and rotated counterclockwise, ejecting both occupants, according to GSP reports. It came to rest on its top in the road.
Gillespie’s passenger, 16-year-old Zachary Smith of Hartwell, was unrestrained and was totally ejected in the wreck. He was taken by ambulance to Greenville Memorial Hospital with life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the S-10, Esteban Martinez, 25, of Dewy Rose, was trapped in the wreckage and had to be extricated by emergency personnel, Roberts said. He was wearing his seatbelt.
Martinez was seriously injured and was taken to Greenville Memorial Hospital where he last was listed in critical condition, according to Roberts.
Gillespie, who was totally ejected during the crash, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to AnMed in Anderson, S.C., for treatment.
