Elderly Man Killed in Crash Involving Toombs County Sheriff’s Vehicle on U.S. Highway 1

TOOMBS COUNTY, GA – An 82-year-old Vidalia man was killed Monday afternoon in a crash involving a Toombs County Sheriff’s Office vehicle at a busy intersection in the county, according to authorities.

The wreck happened around 5:11 p.m. on January 12th at the intersection of U.S. Highway 1 and Five Points Road in Lyons, GA. Toombs County 911 received a call from a witness who reported that a sheriff’s truck traveling northbound on Highway 1 collided with a blue van that was turning off Five Points Road.

Investigators identified the deputy driving the sheriff’s vehicle as Jamiya Perry. The driver of the van was identified as James Wilbanks, 82, of Vidalia.

When deputies arrived, Perry was out of the vehicle and walking. Wilbanks, however, was trapped inside his van and was pronounced dead at the scene before deputies could render aid.

The Georgia State Patrol took over the investigation, with a trooper from GSP’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team responding to process the scene. Based on preliminary findings, investigators say Wilbanks failed to yield to oncoming traffic while turning, causing the sheriff’s truck to strike the van on the driver’s side.

The crash remains under investigation.

“We ask that you pray for the Wilbanks family and Deputy Perry during this difficult time,” Sheriff Jordan Kight said in a statement.