Banks County Superintendent Dr. Ann Hopkins says the school community is “devastated” by the loss of one of its students. 17-year-old Austin Fontes died Thursday in a single-vehicle wreck while on his way to school.
According to the Georgia State Patrol, the Commerce teen died when the Chevrolet S10 pickup truck he was riding in left the roadway and ran headlong into a tree. Fontes was not wearing his seatbelt, troopers say. The Banks County Coroner pronounced him dead at the scene.
“Our deepest sympathies are extended to the family members and friends of the young man who was tragically killed in the accident.” – Banks County Supt. Dr. Ann Hopkins
The wreck injured the driver, Banks County High senior Jacob Elliott of Lula. Banks County EMS transported the 17-year-old Elliott to Northeast Georgia Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
“Our students, faculty, and community members are devastated at the loss of one of our students and are praying for the recovery of our other senior,” Banks County School Superintendent Dr. Ann Hopkins tells Now Habersham.
Troopers with Georgia State Patrol 6 in Gainesville responded to the accident around 7:37 a.m. on September 9. They say drugs and alcohol are not suspected to be a factor in the crash. The state patrol’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team is assisting in the investigation.
Dr. Hopkins extends the school system’s “deepest sympathies” to Fontes’ family members and friends.
The State Patrol says charges are pending against Elliott including second-degree vehicular homicide and failure to maintain lane.
