Stephens Co Sheriff Calls for Traffic Light at Accident Site

By Charlie Bauder, WNEG Radio, Toccoa

Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley is renewing the call for a traffic light at the intersection where a serious accident took place over the weekend involving a church van that injured 10 people.

It happened Sunday afternoon when a van from Martin Baptist Church carrying children home was hit by a truck that had pulled out of Memorial Drive onto the SR17 Bypass.

Shirley says the wreck Sunday is just the latest in a long line of accidents to take place there.

“We have had so many accidents up there with injuries,” said Shirley. “I know of four fatalities in the last seven or eight years and many other wrecks where luckily there were no injuries.” –

Sheriff Shirley said he has previously reached out to the Georgia Department Of Transportation about putting in a traffic signal at that intersection.

“But the DOT felt differently and will not put one in, Shirley said. “So on Sunday I called (50th District State) Senator John Wilkinson and spoke with him at length. He is very concerned as well and is going to personally going to contact the new Commissioner of the (Georgia) Department of Transportation this week and hopefully they will be moving to get one installed.”

In Sunday’s accident, shirley said when the truck collided with the church van, it caused the van to roll multiple times and ejected a young girl who was a passenger.

The van then landed on the little girl’s arm, but bystanders were able to get the girl’s arm out from under it.

The child was airlifted to Egleston Children’s Hospital in Atlanta.

The driver of the van was also airlifted to Northeast Georgia Medical Center.

Other passengers in both the church van and the truck suffered various injuries and were taken to Stephens County Hospital.

The driver of the truck was also taken by ambulance to Northeast Georgia Medical Center.

Sheriff Shirley thanked all of those who responded to the accident sunday to help those that were injured

“I am so proud of our paramedics and local first responders,” said Shirley. “They did a fantastic job taking care of those that were injured

Shirley urges motorists to use caution at that intersection, as well as at all other times on the highways.

According Georgia State Patrol troopers investigating, the driver of the truck was apparently under the influence at the time of the accident.

No word yet on whether any charges will be filed against the driver.