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Crash on Hwy. 85 kills Fayetteville man

By LEE WILLIAMS
lwilliams@TheCitizenNews.com

A Fayetteville man was killed early Friday morning when his classic automobile slammed into the back of a truck on Ga. Highway 85 just south of the intersection of Carnes Drive.

Chester Lawson Jones III, 50, the driver of a 1978 Chevrolet Camaro, was traveling south on Hwy. 85 when he ran into the rear of the tractor-lowboy trailer combination, said Lt. Col. Wayne Hannah, director of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department Traffic Enforcement Division.

Hilton Thomas Madaris, 59, of Brooks, was the driver of the truck, Hannah said.

Jones, who was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, sustained severe head and internal injuries. He was transported by medical helicopter to Atlanta Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

“At this point in the investigation it has been determined that the truck had turned out of Carnes Drive and was picking up speed when it was struck by the Camaro,” Hannah said in a prepared statement. “All lights on the rear of the trailer, along with an additional amber strobe light, were found to be working properly. There does not appear to be excessive speed involved on the part of the Camaro.”

Hannah indicated that Jones could have avoided tragedy.

“It appears from the vehicle inspection that if Mr. Lawson had been properly seat-belted, the crash could very well have been survivable,” Hannah said.

Friday’s crash was the first automobile-related fatality of the year.

The investigation continues. No charges have been filed in the case.