The Georgia State Patrol has released the names of the two people who died in a multi-vehicle car accident in Hall County on Sunday.
Cpl. Bronson Taylor said the driver of the 2002 Toyota Tacoma, Lee Howard Powell, 59, of Demorest, and the vehicle's passenger, Karen Heath McClure, 65, of McDonough, both died as a result of the crash on GA-365.
Cpl. Taylor said Powell was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the accident, but McClure was not.
Drugs or alcohol are not suspected to be a factor in the crash, however, Cpl. Taylor said the speed at which the Honda Accord was traveling is believed to have been a factor.
Charges are pending against the driver of the Honda Accord, Zachary Darnell Queen, 28, of Kennesaw, according to Cpl. Taylor.
More information on the accident is available in the original story below.
Original story posted May 23, 2021, at 7:38 p.m.:
Two people are dead after a multi-vehicle crash in Hall County on Sunday.
According to Cpl. Bronson Taylor with the Georgia State Patrol, at 2:42 p.m., a Silver Honda Accord was traveling southbound on GA-365 near Mud Creek Road when it struck several vehicles. “The Honda Accord was traveling at a high rate of speed, from what witness statements have led us to believe,” says Taylor.
The Honda first struck a Toyota Tacoma, causing the driver of the truck to lose control and travel into the median of 365. The truck overturned, killing both the driver and passenger. Their names are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
Continuing southbound, the Honda also struck a Toyota Tundra. That vehicle sustained damage, but the passengers were not hurt.
A fourth vehicle was also involved as it traveled northbound and encountered debris from the truck’s accident in the median.
Both northbound and southbound lanes were closed for over four hours as investigators tried to determine what happened. The investigation is ongoing.
Charges are pending.
