By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Man killed Monday in East Hall accident identified
There is disagreement over whether he was texting before the crash
Placeholder Image

An attorney denies a man was text messaging in his vehicle just before he was killed Monday in an accident in East Hall County, despite a Georgia State Patrol report to the contrary.

GSP identified the victim as Darrick Shaw, 22, but attorney Judy Sartain, who represents the victim's family, said he had legally changed his name to Gabriel Jeffries after being adopted as an adult.

The Gillsville man was operating a vehicle west on Harmony Church Road at Twin Springs Road when it was struck by an eastbound minivan, GSP communications equipment officer Jared Baker said.

Two other people were injured and taken by ambulance to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville from the 3:10 p.m. accident, Baker said. Their names and conditions weren't available.

Baker said a witness told GSP that the victim was text messaging when the accident occurred.

However, Sartain said, "His brother was in the car with him and he's adamant he was not" texting before the accident.

Baker said the victim overcorrected his steering when the vehicle went onto the right shoulder, sending it into the eastbound lane and shoulder. He then overcorrected his steering again and slid west on Harmony Church where the minivan struck his vehicle.

Shaw died at the scene, Baker said.