Dump truck DUI kills 2

A five-car pileup in the Fairview community on Tuesday took the lives of two Demorest residents, a grandfather and grandson.

Around 2 p.m. Tuesday, a Ford Fusion containing Bobby Lee Washington York Sr., 82, and Jason York, 37, both of Demorest, was stopped on Georgia Highway 115 near Fairview Elementary. They were hit hard enough from behind by a Sterling Acterra truck, driven by Michael Speed, 47, of Clarkesville that a chain reaction started involving three other vehicles.

The Fusion was smashed into the Chevy SIlverado in front of it, which then hit a Nissan Murano. A Jeep Cherokee tried to avoid the crash and was hit by the reeling Acterra truck.

Both Bobby York and Jason York were deceased at the scene of the crash.

Speed was not injured and is facing charges by the Georgia State Patrol including DUI, vehicular homicide (two counts) and following too close.

According to his obituary with Whitfield Funeral Home, “Jason will be remembered as a sweet, special and caring person, who never met a stranger. He enjoyed going to wrestling matches, going to play BINGO with his grandfather, and listening to his brother sing in his band.”

“He was a great young man,” friend and local musician Steve Bryson said of Jason. “I will miss him and hearing him say ‘There’s my buddy.” He will always be my buddy. My heart goes out to the entire family with Jason and ‘Flatbroke’ York gone, but not forgotten.”

Bobby’s daughter Debbie Roberts of Greenville, S.C., said she loved them both dearly and that they would be missed.

Kay Dean York said her family has lost three members in the last year, referring to the DUI crash as a “careless, senseless act.”

A joint memorial service honoring both men will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 6, at the Whitfield Funeral Homes, South Chapel. Interment will follow in the Yonah Memorial Gardens.