A weekend wreck near Clayton claimed the life of a 14-year-old and left the driver facing charges.
Noah Owens, 14, suffered fatal injuries when he was thrown from a 2006 Volvo XC90 driven by Zackery Lee Garner, 20, of Clayton just before 9 p.m. Saturday on Cox Lake Drive at Devonshire Lane.
Georgia State Patrol Post 7 in Toccoa reports Garner’s vehicle was traveling south on Cox Lake Drive, crossed the centerline of the road and exited the roadway to the left. The vehicle traveled into the ditch on the east shoulder of Cox Lake Road and Garner overcorrected, causing the vehicle to overturn when it re-entered the roadway.
The Volvo overturned and crossed the roadway, striking a tree with its front, according to GSP. Owens was thrown from and pinned under the overturning vehicle, according to GSP.
Garner, who was not injured was charged by GSP with second-degree homicide by vehicle, reckless driving, driver to exercise due care, too fast for conditions, driving while unlicensed, failure to maintain lane and no seatbelt.
