Georgia state troopers say balding tires on a rain-slick road contributed to a wreck that killed an Elberton woman and critically injured a Mt. Airy man.
Around 7:11 a.m. on Friday, a state trooper from Post 52 in Hartwell was dispatched to a two-vehicle crash on GA 17 near Adamanda Road in Elbert County. The preliminary crash investigation revealed a Dodge Ram 1500 was traveling south on Highway 17 when it traveled into the northbound lane.
An Isuzu NPR HD struck the passenger’s side of the Dodge. After impact, both vehicles rotated clockwise and came to an uncontrolled rest off the west shoulder of the road.
The driver of the Dodge, 55-year-old Monica Davis Hagood, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Elbert County EMS transported the Isuzu driver, Michael Antonio Merriett, age 42, to Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center in critical condition.
Troopers say the tread on the rear tires of the Dodge were below the tread wear bars.
The Georgia State Patrol’s Troop B Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team is assisting in the investigation into the fatal crash.
