Macon County is in mourning after a crash Saturday near Clayton, Georgia claimed the lives of sheriff’s deputy David Head and his wife, Dawn.
According to a report from the Georgia State Highway Patrol, Tristan Bartlett, 22, of Rabun Gap, was traveling south on US 441 when the Jeep Commander he was driving crossed the center line into northbound traffic, colliding with a line of vehicles that included the Harley Davidson ridden by the Heads.
The accident occurred near the intersection of US 441 and Old Highway 441 in Clayton just before 4:30 p.m.
Bartlett was charged with two counts of homicide by vehicle, failure to exercise due care and failure to maintain lane. He suffered minor injuries and was transported to Mountain Lakes Medical Center before being released into custody. He is being held at the Rabun County Detention Center.
Three additional vehicles were involved in the wreck: a 2016 Chevrolet pickup occupied by Breanna Almeida, 25, and Hanna Abercrombie, 31, both of Franklin, and Blake Ashmon, 32 of Stone Mountain, Georgia; a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado occupied by Michael Payne, 51, and Tyler Payne, 26, of Hampton, Tennessee; and a 2011 Kia Sorrento occupied by Jessica Robinson, 41, Jerry Robinson, 69, Linda Robinson, 65, and Jerry Parker, 6, all of Clayton.
Almeida and Abercrombie had complaints of minor injuries, according to GSP.
The news of the accident hit the Macon County Sheriff’s Office particularly hard. Head was a deputy for the department and, according to Macon County Sheriff Robert Holland, a respected member of the law enforcement community.
“David was a good man and a dedicated law enforcement officer who served his community with distinction,” Holland said. “More times than not, he was the kind of man that would tell you he loved you as he left you in a conversation. He and Dawn will be truly missed.”
Holland added that his entire department has been affected by the loss and that his condolences went out to the couple’s children.
“The struggle has been very real for our agency and it’s a great loss to us all, but our hearts and our sympathy go out to those who loved David and Dawn the most – their children and their families,” Holland said. “I plan to create a fund today (May 26) that our community can contribute to for the children’s education.”
David Head was a veteran, having served as aviation ordnanceman in the Navy.
The Heads were to be remembered May 26 with a prayer vigil at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park in Highlands.
The Clayton Tribune reporter Megan Broome contributed to this report.