A fatal collision on Highway 27 in Chattooga County nearly two years ago, which claimed the life of 42-year-old Jillian Ann Durgin, has now spurred a civil lawsuit alleging negligence. The incident occurred at the busy intersection of Highway 27 and Gore-Subligna Road.

According to Superior Court documents, Durgin was driving her 2013 Hyundai Tucson SUV eastbound when she pulled onto Highway 27 from a nearby gas station lot. Her vehicle entered the path of a southbound 2017 Freightliner Cascadia 125 tractor-trailer, driven by Jonathan Wayne Owenby.

The impact occurred on the driver’s side of Durgin’s SUV, a collision that caused both vehicles to leave the roadway and crash into a ditch. Durgin sustained fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Owenby, the truck driver, was employed by Mohawk Carpet Transportation of Georgia, LLC, and was reportedly operating the vehicle within the scope of his employment at the time of the incident.

The force of the initial collision caused Owenby’s tractor-trailer to overturn and subsequently strike another tractor-trailer that was parked at K & L Dawson Inc.’s business operation location.

On July 7, a civil lawsuit was filed by attorney Albert C. Palmour on behalf of K & L Dawson Inc., a Georgia corporation based in Chattooga County. The lawsuit names Mohawk Carpet Transportation of Georgia, LLC, Jonathan Wayne Owenby, and Zurich American Insurance Company as defendants.

The complaint alleges that Owenby was “driving too fast for conditions and in violation of the lawful speed” when the collision occurred, attributing the damage to his negligence. K & L Dawson Inc. claims it has been unable to use its truck for business operations since the incident, resulting in business losses.

The company is seeking the fair market value of the damaged vehicle or its repair costs, compensation for loss of use at a reasonable commercial rate, and any additional relief the court deems appropriate.

This incident and the subsequent lawsuit highlight ongoing safety concerns at the Highway 27 and Gore-Subligna Road intersection, a known busy corridor in Chattooga County.