Laurens County high school student dies after head-on collision
A West Laurens high school student died Sunday night after a man allegedly collided with the car he was in, according to Georgia State Patrol.
A green Ford Ranger was traveling north on State Route 31 at 12:44 a.m., as a red Kia Soul was traveling south, according to the GSP. As both drivers approached each other from opposite directions, “the driver of the Ford Ranger, for an unknown reason, crossed the center line and struck the front of the Kia Soul in a head-on manner,” the GSP said.
The Ford Ranger overturned, then came to a rest. The car was upside down and facing south. The Kia Soul traveled off the roadway before coming to an uncontrolled final rest, facing northeast, according to the GSP.
The man driving the Ford Ranger was transported to Fairview Park Hospital via ambulance. The Kia Soul was occupied by a female driver and two male passengers, who were a mother and her twin sons, according to the Laurens County School District. The mother and the backseat passenger were taken to Wellstar in Augusta; however, while the front seat passenger, identified as Isaiah Freeman, died as a result of the injuries he sustained in the crash, the GSP said.
It is also unclear whether there is an investigation and if the driver will be facing charges. As of Monday afternoon, the GSP had not responded to questions by the Telegraph.
“Isaiah was a respectful, beautiful soul, an aspiring artist with an entrepreneurial spirit, who had so many dreams he was just beginning to chase,” said Kimberly Delgado, Freeman’s cousin, via her GoFundMe page. “He touched everyone who knew him and will be deeply missed.”
Donations requested by school district, GoFundMe page
The Laurens County School District will help cover the family’s medical and funeral expenses. Anyone interested in donating can take them to the front office of West Laurens High School at 3692 GA Highway 257 in Dexter. Checks should be made payable to West Laurens High School with a notation for Freeman, according to Facebook.
Even though checks are made out to the school, “all monies collected will be compiled and one check will be written to a trusted family member,” the school district said in a Facebook post. The method of collection was approved by Freeman’s immediate family.
Delgado’s GoFundMe page requests help for the family’s funeral and medical expenses, and had raised $12,481 of its $20,000 goal as of Monday afternoon.
“His kind heart and respectful spirit will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him,” the Laurens County School District said.
