A devastating head-on collision on South Fulton Parkway (State Route 70) in Chattahoochee Hills resulted in one fatality and left another driver injured on Tuesday evening. Chattahoochee Hills police responded to the scene at approximately 6:50 p.m., discovering two heavily damaged vehicles between Rico Road and Cochran Mill Road. According to the Georgia State Patrol, which is leading the investigation, a Toyota Camry traveling eastbound crossed into the westbound lane for reasons that remain under investigation and collided head-on with a westbound Toyota Tacoma. The impact proved fatal for the Camry's driver, whose identity is being withheld pending family notification. The Tacoma's driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries and managed to escape after the truck caught fire following the collision. Chattahoochee Hills Fire Chief Greg Brett and emergency responders worked the scene as South Fulton Parkway remained closed in both directions for several hours, creating significant traffic disruptions that required police to manually redirect multiple 18-wheelers trapped along the approximately 3-mile stretch of roadway.

Location and Infrastructure

South Fulton Parkway (State Route 70) serves as a major thoroughfare through Chattahoochee Hills, connecting rural and suburban communities in southern Fulton County. The collision location between Rico Road and Cochran Mill Road represents a corridor that accommodates both local traffic and commercial vehicles, including tractor-trailers. The roadway features opposing traffic lanes without a median barrier in this section, making head-on collisions possible when vehicles cross the centerline. Chief Brett's statement that a similar fatal accident occurred in the same area just three weeks prior raises concerns about potential hazards along this stretch of SR-70. The multi-mile closure and the need to redirect trapped commercial vehicles underscore the road's importance as a regional connector. Factors such as road geometry, lighting conditions, visibility, and traffic volume during evening hours may all be relevant to understanding crash patterns in this location.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Georgia law addresses traffic crashes through both criminal and civil statutes that may apply to this incident. Under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-40, drivers must maintain their lane and exercise due care to avoid collisions. When a fatality occurs, the Georgia State Patrol conducts a thorough investigation to determine contributing factors, which may include distracted driving, impairment, medical emergencies, or mechanical failures. Family members of the deceased driver may have grounds to pursue wrongful death claims under O.C.G.A. § 51-4-2, which allows recovery of the full value of the life lost. The injured Tacoma driver may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage. Georgia operates under a modified comparative negligence system, and parties typically have two years from the date of the accident to file personal injury claims and two years for wrongful death actions. Both liability insurance coverage and potential underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage may be relevant to any claims arising from this collision.

Related Resources

Emergency Services:

• Chattahoochee Hills Police Department: (770) 463-8881
• Chattahoochee Hills Fire & Rescue
• Grady Memorial Hospital (Trauma Center)

Traffic Safety Resources:

• Georgia Department of Transportation: 511 for traffic updates
• Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety
• Fulton County Emergency Management Agency

Support Services:

• Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program
• Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Georgia Victim Services
• American Red Cross of Georgia

Legal and Regulatory Information:

• Georgia Department of Driver Services
• Official Code of Georgia Annotated (Traffic Laws): O.C.G.A. Title 40
• Georgia State Patrol Crash Reports: www.gamccd.com