By Myra Williams, Staff Writer
TRUDIE Community — A devastating family tragedy struck home Sunday night in Brantley County in the worst way possible taking away a teenage girl, who had just turned 15, and her grandmother.
A drunk driver, who did not have a valid driver’s license, crossed the centerline on the heavily traveled U.S. 301 roadway striking the SUV driven by the teen head-on just before 8 p.m., June 18, authorities said. Both of the vehicles skidded onto the east shoulder of the road where occupants were trapped inside their vehicles.
Ella Knight, 15, the driver of the black, GMC Yukon SUV, was killed instantly, authorities said. Knight’s parents are Trent and Jennifer Knight. Her grandmother, Debbie McCarthy, died enroute to the hospital.
Brantley County Chief Deputy John Simpson confirmed Monday morning, June 19, the driver of the Ram 5500 Heavy Duty FDD Underground Utility Contractor work truck, Orlin Javier-Nunez of Wausau, Wisc., was transported to Memorial Satilla Health Waycross to be checked and was then transported by the Georgia State Patrol to the Brantley County jail where he is currently being held on numerous offenses.
Javier-Nunez is charged with two counts of Homicide by Vehicle in the first degree, DUI-Alcohol, Possession of Open Container of Alcohol, Failure to Maintain Lane, and Driving While License Suspended or Revoked, Simpson said.
A spokesman for FDD was upset when contacted Monday for a comment on the wreck and the driver of the company truck.
“I am very, very, very sad and super sorry for the losses of the family and offer prayers,” the person said after being told of the situation and charges against Javier-Nunez. “We are 100 percent liable ... he was not supposed to be driving the truck. I don’t know what else to say. This sucks for us.”
When word of the crash weaved its way across Brantley County, friends, family and concerned acquaintances turned out in force at the site of the wreck.
Brantley County Sheriff's Office officials handled traffic issues and assisted in other ways while fire department personnel trained in extrication and rescue worked to free the occupants of the vehicles. EMTs and other medical personnel quickly responded and began the task of getting the injured out of the vehicles and stabilizing them as they were hurriedly driven to the Waycross emergency room for treatment.
Outpourings of support, love and heartbreak were dispensed on Facebook as the community learned of the tragedy. A GoFundMe account has been created to help with expenses of funerals and other needs during this traumatic event.
The official report of the crash has not been completed as Monday was an official holiday and no one from the GSP was available to speak on the incident.
Waycross GSP Post Commander Sgt. Miles Cooper was the ranking officer in charge of the accident investigation. That investigation will likely include a step-by-step examination of the scene by the Georgia State Collision Reconstruction Team.
