September 29, 2006
Thomas County- A Thomas County teenager was killed in a car crash Thursday night. The wreck happend on Georgia Three and it's the second fatal crash on that highway in the last three weeks.
Thomas County Central students clung to each other just feet from where they lost their friend, 16 year old Danielle Stewart. Some brought flowers, others just needed to see where it happened.
"I came out here last night, and I couldn't really see anything and I just wanted to see what everything looked like," said Kellie O'Neal, a friend.
The 16 year old junior was alone in the car, northbound on Georgia Three when she lost control.
"While negotiating the curve, she lost control crossed over into the southbound lane. The vehicle rotated approximately 180 degrees then traveled back over the northbound lanes of travel and overturned in the east ditch of old Georgia three," said Trooper Craig Singletary, Ga. State Patrol.
Skid marks show where Danielle Stewart's car went off the roadway, but the horrifying part is that just 50 feet away are marks from another fatal accident, just weeks ago involving another 16 year old driver.
"It is a curvy road, it's a dark road and it could be inexperienced drivers, I'm not real sure," said Singletary.
Troopers can't pinpoint a cause. The Department of Transportation plans to look more closely at the highway known for bad crashes. Locals have even nicknamed one of the curves, Archbold curve. Friends are just trying to make sense of the situation.
"She was just really nice, she was just the kind of person you could tell anything to and you could trust her with anything She was just really sweet," said O'Neal.
Friday night, they'll attempt to celebrate Homecoming as they come to grips with the loss of a friend and classmate.
Troopers report Stewart was wearing her seat belt at the time of the crash, and investigation is ongoing to determine if she was speeding.
Word of the teens death spread quickly and counselors were on hand At Central High in Thomas County to help students deal with their grief.
Six licensed counselors, including the school system's social worker were at the school. Many students didn't go to classes Friday and others went home early.
Danielle Stewart was an active student and part of the school's mass media class.
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