A fish management employee was seriously injured after crashing his state-owned pickup truck into a utility pole in front of the McDuffie Regional Medical Center in Thomson on Tuesday afternoon.
Dean Palmer, who has worked for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Fish Management Division in Thomson for nearly 20 years, was taken by helicopter to the Medical College of Georgia Hospital in Augusta following the wreck on Georgia Highway 12 shortly before 4 p.m.
A 77-year-old Warrenton woman also was injured when Mr. Palmer's out-of-control Chevrolet pickup sideswiped a Ford Crown Victoria driven by the woman's husband, Clinton Rhodes Jr., just seconds before he slammed head-on into the pole. The woman was identified as Mary Rhodes, according to Georgia State Patrol Trooper First Class Steve Shelton.
Mrs. Rhodes was treated at the scene by personnel with the McDuffie County Emergency Medical Services, as well as firefighters/first responders with the Thomson Fire Department. Hospital personnel also walked to the scene and rendered medical assistance to Mrs. Rhodes and Mr. Palmer. Mrs. Rhodes reportedly received a shoulder injury and complained of assorted injuries, too, at the scene.
Mr. Rhodes, who was not injured, reportedly was checked and released from the local hospital.
Trooper Shelton, who was assisted in investigating the three-vehicle wreck by Thomson police Sgt. Jammie Smith and Officer Don Hilson, said the first wreck occurred in Warren County near Pine View Mobile Home Park. Mr. Palmer reportedly struck the rear of a Chevrolet Cavalier driven by Jeremiah Banks of Warrenton.
Mr. Palmer then continued eastbound along the Warrenton Highway at what a witness said was a high-rate of speed.
"He was going real fast," according to James Evans of Warrenton, one of several witnesses to Mr. Palmer's reported reckless driving. "I could see him weaving in and out of traffic, past Briarwood Academy and in between there and Thomson Plastics."
Another witness, Michael Parris, of Thomson, reported that Mr. Palmer's truck "was all over the road" and that at one point he nearly wrecked when he went off the shoulder of the roadway.
Mr. Palmer reportedly continued towards Thomson, "running several people off the roadway," Mr. Parris said, noting that he notified a dispatcher in McDuffie County as to the situation.
Deputy Barry Whitfield said he spotted Mr. Palmer in the truck near the intersection of Wire Road and the Warrenton Highway and attempted to stop him with the use of his blue lights and siren. The deputy's effort was to no avail.
Deputy Whitfield said Mr. Palmer nearly struck three young boys walking along the side of the highway before striking the side of the westbound car driven by Mr. Rhodes.
"It was a miracle that those boys weren't hit," Deputy Whitfield said.
Trooper Shelton conferred with Mr. Palmer's superiors about him being a diabetic and that his medical condition may have led to the wrecks. The accidents were still under investigation on Tuesday night.
