William Swint,January Hartley Obituary, Death; – Columbia County officials have confirmed the identities of the two individuals who lost their lives in the head-on collision on Monday, identifying them as a man from Martinez and his step-daughter. Charges are anticipated against the driver who entered their lane and collided with them.
William Swint, aged 68, and his step-daughter, January Hartley, aged 42, both residents of Martinez, were declared dead at the scene, as reported by the sheriff’s office. Swint was operating the vehicle, while Hartley was a passenger.
The driver responsible for the incident, 50-year-old Willie James Wilson from Appling, is currently hospitalized at Doctors Hospital. Charges are expected to be filed against him once he is discharged, according to Sheriff’s Maj. Steve Morris. His mugshot has yet to be taken.
The incident commenced around 5:45 p.m. on Monday on Washington Road near Old Evans Road, when Wilson rear-ended a Mitsubishi Outlander being driven by 26-year-old Taylor Normington. Despite the initial impact, Wilson continued to drive.
Further along Washington Road, near Case Linda Drive, Wilson swerved into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with a 2004 Ford Focus. The force of the collision caused the Focus to overturn and crash into the driver’s side of a red Kia Forte operated by 33-year-old Shanequa Freeman from Augusta. Freeman was transported to Doctors Hospital for medical attention.
Swint and Hartley, who were occupants of the Ford Focus, succumbed to their injuries at the scene. Their vehicle came to a stop on its driver side.
Authorities report that Wilson was driving at a high speed. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating the details surrounding the crash.
