Separate single-vehicle wrecks last Tuesday night and Wednesday in McDuffie County have left one man dead and two men in critical condition at an Augusta hospital.
Major U. Elam Sr., 47, of Lincolnton, received various injuries when he was thrown from an SUV that overturned three times on Cedar Rock Road, about three miles west of Thomson last Tuesday night, said Georgia State Patrol Sgt. Jason Johnson.
Mr. Elam was flown by helicopter to the Medical College of Georgia Hospital where he died Saturday morning, a patrol spokeswoman said.
In a separate wreck that occurred shortly after 9 a.m. last Wednesday in the eastbound lane of Interstate 20, a Conyers, Ga., man was critically injured.
Trooper Stan White identified the man as Rodney King, 38. Mr. King was flown to MCG where he was listed in critical condition Wednesday afternoon, the trooper said.
Mr. King, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected after he lost control of his 1993 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck, hit a sign and then a guardrail before turning over at least once. The truck ended up wedged against two trees, along side a steep embankment.
Traffic, meanwhile, along the busy interstate highway was snarled for more than an hour, as the victim had to be rescued and later taken to the helicopter that landed in the eastbound lanes.
Another wreck occurred shortly before 5:30 p.m. last Wednesday on Wisham Road, near Thomson, which left a local man hospitalized in critical condition.
Trooper Ben Rollins identified the victim as Shane Gobin, 46, of Thomson. He also was flown from the scene by helicopter to MCG.
Mr. Cobin lost control of a 1994 Ford Crown Victoria, which had been traveling eastbound, before slamming into a tree - the front end of the car sustaining extensive damages.
All three wrecks remain under investigation by state troopers.
