Four people – including a 5-year-old child – were killed in local car wrecks over the weekend, and one man was charged with driving under the influence and causing his friend’s death.
Around 6 p.m. Sunday night, Georgia State Patrol was called to a single-car crash on Highway 17 near Fred Pitts Road. The 1993 Ford F-150 – driven by Glenn Corum, 60, of Gainesville – was traveling south when it traveled onto the shoulder, struck a driveway ditch and overturned.
The crash killed his girlfriend – Lillie Ramsey, 51, of Cleveland – who was riding in the passenger seat. Troopers determined that Corum was allegedly driving under the influence and released him into custody after he was treated for minor injuries at Habersham Medical Center.
“Rest easy, my sister. I will always love you. I will miss you,” Angelica Fells said in a social media tribute.
Corum was arrested on charges of homicide by vehicle (first degree), DUI, and failure to maintain lane.
Ramsey’s co-worker Karen Egerton said Monday that her death was a devastating shock.
“Lillie could light up a room,” Egerton said. “She didn’t know any strangers. She loved life and she was an amazing person. She only wanted to better herself and be happy.”
On Saturday, a Clarkesville man was killed in another one-car crash on Highway 197 in Rabun County.
Andy Kastner, 63, of Clarkesville was driving his 1998 Chevrolet GMT truck south when he ran off the roadway and overturned down an embankment. His passenger – Anthony Sizemore of Hiawassee – was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.
According to his obituary, Kastner worked for CW Matthews Construction, J Allen Long Construction and North East Georgia Heat and Air during his career. He was an avid reader, outdoorsman and enjoyed people.
A two-vehicle crash on Highway 365 on Friday evening took the lives of an Alto woman and her nephew.
Three adults, a 5-year-old and an infant were riding in a Toyota Matrix attempting to cross the highway from Mt. Zion Road, while an E150 van was traveling southbound. The Toyota failed to yield, GSP said, and caused the crash.
Cythnia Wade, 29, of Alto and her nephew did not survive their injuries.
“Cynthia was a goofy, funny, sweet and crazy person with a big heart,” said friend Breanna Strickland, who organized a GoFundMe for the family at bit.ly/3jXIZGG.
The driver – Denise Wade, 26, of Alto – along with passengers Jessica Burgess and an infant survived the crash and were transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center with various injuries.
The driver and passenger of the van were not injured seriously enough to be transported.
Tragedy has struck this same family before, as Cynthia’s sister Autumn Wade died in a fire in White County in 2015, according to reports by WSB-TV in Atlanta.