Authorities say they have tentatively identified a man and woman killed Monday in Oconee County when their SUV crashed and burned while fleeing from a deputy.
Dental records and DNA of the possible victims were sent for comparison with remains from the wreck that were being examined by forensic experts at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s State Crime Lab in Decatur, Oconee County Sheriff Scott Berry posted late Wednesday afternoon on his agency’s Facebook page.
“A forensic odontologist will compare the submitted records and compare them to the persons involved in this crash. We don’t know how long it will take. We expect it to be done as soon as possible,” the sheriff said in his post. “We will post the identifications here after and only after the families and next of kin have all been notified. I know many of you are praying for the families of the persons killed in this collision. I would ask that you continue to lift them up with your thoughts and prayers.”
The crash occurred shortly before 10 p.m. Monday at McNutt Creek Road’s intersection with Georgia Highway 316. A 2007 Jeep Patriot Sport was being chased by a deputy when it ran a stop sign and plowed into the side of a tractor-trailer truck. The Jeep got stuck beneath the trailer and was dragged several hundred feet, according to Berry. The Jeep burst into flames and its two occupants were killed.
The tractor trailer was carrying huge spools of paper, which had to be off-loaded before the big rig could be removed from on top of the Jeep, Berry said. The eastbound lanes of Highway 316 were closed for about six hours, reopening at about 4 a.m. Tuesday.
According to Berry, the incident began at a subdivision under construction that had been experiencing thefts. A deputy was there providing security when the Jeep drove into the neighborhood, then quickly sped off when the driver noticed the deputy.
When the deputy later located the Jeep, which had its lights turned off, it drove into someone’s driveway and then onto the yard, going around the house, Berry said. When the Jeep came from around the back of the house it nearly struck the deputy’s car. Berry said the deputy avoided a collision by throwing his car into reverse.
The pursuit then continued on McNutt Creek Road, where the Jeep ran through stop signs, including the one at Highway 316.
• View more photos from the accident in our slideshow.
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