A 24-year-old Hancock County man was seriously injured after he lost control of his car causing it to smash and damage five boats parked in front of Hillbilly Marina in the Raysville Community of McDuffie County last Tuesday afternoon.
The owner of the business, Steve Krome, estimated damages to be between $8,000 and $10,000.
Trooper Rich Fishel of the Georgia State Patrol post in Thomson identified the injured man as Garell Wright, of 33 Spring Court, Sparta. Trooper Fishel said Mr. Wright received visible head injuries. He was treated at the scene by personnel with the McDuffie County Emergency Medical Services and firefighters/first responders with the McDuffie County Fire/Rescue Services.
He was taken by ambulance to the Medical College of Georgia Hospital in Augusta.
"We heard the tires swilling, but all we could see was a big cloud of dust," said Danny Tilson, who along with his wife, Violet, was walking on the opposite side of the Lincolnton Highway when the mishap occurred about 12:30 p.m. "We then heard stuff clanking all around after he hit the pontoon."
While traveling westbound, Mr. Wright apparently lost control of his 1987 Cadillac Coupe Deville and then hit a mile marker sign before hitting the top of a ditch and going airborne - landing into the driveway of the business and then sliding on gravel into the parked boats.
The boats were being repaired, according to Mr. Krome. He said he would be notifying the owners of the boats and then contacting his insurance agent about damages that he incurred at his business.
Trooper Fishel charged Mr. Wright with failure to maintain lane in connection with the wreck.
