Three people were killed and two were injured in a two car collision Early Tuesday morning night in Winder Georgia.  The collision occurred on a two lane road. Winder Police Accident Investigation Team determined that the wreck happened after 1 a.m.A witness indicated that one car passed his tractor trailer, across a double yellow line and hit oncoming traffic.

Levi Brooks, age 18 is believed to be the driver of the Dodge Neon that crossed into opposing traffic.  Derrick Banks, 21, despite rescue efforts, did not survive.  Brooks; however did survive and was taken to an area hospital.

Gerald Whitlow who also survived, was in the rear seat of the Grand Marquis that was struck. Wilber F. Taylor and his wife, Dorothy Jean Pike Taylor, were in the front of the Grand Marquis and are believed to have been on their way home from a church event.

CROSSING A DOUBLE YELLOW LINE:  O.C.G.A. § 40-6-48

It is not permissible to pass on a double yellow line, with few exceptions.  Here the driver of the Dodge Neon was attempting to pass a tractor trailer that would require a considerable distance to be done safely, even if against the statute.

“A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from such lane until the driver has first ascertained that such movement can be made with safety”; See http://web.lexis-nexis.com/research/retrieve?_m=4ff544445a58fca12045e20caa9ea0ea&csvc=lt&cform=byCitation&_fmtstr=FULL&docnum=1&_startdoc=1&wchp=dGLbVzz-zSkAB&_md5=95c63cbd0ff81784e2cd3893bdf4e593

OVERTAKING A VEHICLE ON LEFT: OCGA § 40-6-43, states in pertinent part:

(1)  The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left thereof at a safe distance and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle; and

(2) Except when overtaking and passing on the right is permitted, the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall give way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle and shall not increase the speed of his vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle.  See http://web.lexis-nexis.com/research/retrieve?_m=e76387b4655a89168e7893159f659b4d&csvc=lt&cform=byCitation&_fmtstr=FULL&docnum=1&_startdoc=1&wchp=dGLbVzb-zSkAW&_md5=7bf91d47792272131b4b04a856d8bedc

YOUNG DRIVERS:  Inexperience may have been a factor in this tragedy.  While some young drivers may take offense to this conclusion, it is not necessarily the driver’s youth, but simply a lack of driving experience.  Young drivers and their parents should look into taking advantage of driver simulators in order to better their driving skills.

 Story:  http://www.wsbtv.com/news/16251357/detail.htmlhttp://www.wsbtv.com/news/16251357/detail.html