A Toccoa teen died from injuries he suffered Tuesday in a single-vehicle crash in Stephens County, according to authorities. The March 18 crash occurred around 5:19 p.m. on New Hope Road near Gulley Road southwest of Toccoa.
The Stephens County Coroner’s Office identified the teenager as 18-year-old Randall Bentley Bowen.
According to the State Patrol’s preliminary investigation, Bowen was alone in a Ford Ranger pickup truck heading east on New Hope Road. He failed to maintain his lane, and the truck ran off the south shoulder of the roadway.
Troopers say the driver overcorrected, causing the truck to travel down an embankment and overturn. As it came to a stop, the truck struck a utility pole.
Bowen, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was airlifted to a local trauma center, where he later died from his injuries. Authorities suspect impairment was a contributing factor in the crash.
The road was closed for several hours as crews cleared the wreckage, and Hart EMC repaired the utility pole. New Hope Road reopened shortly after 8 p.m. Tuesday.
