An early Sunday morning accident in which a vehicle apparently left the road and struck several trees on Ga. 82 near the Barrow/Jackson county line resulted in one man’s death and another man’s arrest.

Preliminary evidence collected at the scene suggests that the white 1989 Cadillac passenger car was traveling west on Ga. 82, crossed over into the eastbound lane of traffic and left the road. Sheriff’s deputies responded to the accident at 12:28 a.m. Sunday.

The driver, Michael Bernard Smith, 37, of Statham was flown to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he later died of his injuries.

A passenger, Ronald Lewis Thurmond, 41, of Statham, who initially fled the scene, was arrested a short time later by sheriff’s deputies for outstanding warrants in Barrow County.

The accident is being investigated by the Georgia State Patrol. The cause of the accident still is unknown.