The Georgia State Patrol Public Information Office has released details surrounding a tragic five-vehicle crash that resulted in a fatality Friday evening near Belmont Baptist Church on Lyerly Highway.

The accident occurred on January 24, 2025, at approximately 6:50 PM, prompting an immediate response from Troopers to the scene on Georgia Highway 114 near Bargain Lane. According to the preliminary investigation, the incident began when a red Chevrolet S-10 truck broke down in both southbound lanes of Georgia Highway 114. A grey Nissan Sentra, traveling south in the left lane, noticed the disabled vehicle and came to a halt to avoid a collision. However, the situation escalated when a silver Toyota Corolla, which was closely following the Nissan, failed to stop in time and struck the rear of the Sentra.

After the collision, the driver of the Toyota exited the vehicle and engaged with witnesses at the rear of the car. As witnesses attempted to signal an approaching blue Jeep Compass in the left lane to slow down using flashlights, the driver of the Jeep was unable to avoid the scene. The Jeep collided with the Toyota and its driver, who was standing outside the vehicle. The impact sent the Toyota spinning into the northbound lanes, where it then struck a red Chevrolet Silverado. Tragically, the driver of the Toyota was pronounced dead at the scene due to their injuries. Chattooga County Coroner Jeremy McElhaney identified the deceased victim as 28-year-old Travis Bailey of Summerville.

During a search of the Jeep, law enforcement officials discovered drug paraphernalia and several prescription medications, leading to the determination that the driver of the Jeep was impaired. The driver consented to a blood draw to test for impairment. The name of the driver of the Jeep who was charged with DUI has not yet been released.

The Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team (SCRT) has arrived on the scene and will continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding this devastating crash. The driver of the Jeep is expected to face charges of DUI and Following Too Closely.