Update: More details have been released about the Ga.400 wreck that claimed the life of a father in Dawson County
Dawson County man Christian Steele, 21, died from his injuries after an Aug. 26 crash at the Ga. 400 intersection with Harmony Church and Lumpkin Campground roads, the GSP report said.
“This case remains open and is being investigated by the specialized collision reconstruction team,” GSP Public Information Director Cpt. Michael Burns told DCN.
The report showed that GSP troopers responded to a three-vehicle accident at the intersection at 11:52 p.m. on Saturday.
Steele was driving west on Harmony Church Road and approached Ga. 400 at a high rate of speed where he was shown a red traffic light. Meanwhile, the second vehicle, a 2006 Toyota Tacoma, was traveling south on Ga. 400, and the third vehicle, a 1998 Ford Ranger, stopped at a red light, eastbound on Lumpkin Campground Road, according to the report.
“While attempting to travel west from Harmony Church Road to Lumpkin Campground Road via the SR 400 interchange, the driver of Vehicle 1 disobeyed a traffic control signal and failed to yield the right of way designated by Vehicle 2,” the GSP report said.
The motorcycle then struck the left rear of the Toyota truck, causing the truck to spin counterclockwise, travel west off the shoulder of Ga. 400 and come to an uncontrolled rest stop south of the intersection with Lumpkin Campground Road.
After colliding with the rear of a Toyota Tacoma, the motorcycle flipped onto its left side and slid into an uncontrolled rest at the Ga. 400-Lumpkin Campground Road portion of the intersection.
Both occupants were thrown from the motorcycle, with Steele trapped under the Ford Ranger and his passenger landing in the eastbound travel lane on Lumpkin Campground Road, according to the report.
Steele and the passenger were taken to an area hospital before Steele later died from his injuries. The motorcyclist was seriously injured as a result of the wreck.
Steele was “a devoted member of Dawsonville Christian Life Ministries and a 2020 graduate of Chestatee High School,” according to his obituary from Bearden Funeral Home.
“Christian was a hard-working, selfless man who greatly enjoyed music and loved his daughter and fiancée very much,” his obituary said. “He was a kind-hearted Christian and a follower of Jesus Christ. He loved nature and humanity. Christian was a fun, loving family man who had a great sense of humor and was always smiling.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help care for Steele’s daughter. Steele was the sole breadwinner for his family, according to the fundraising page. As of September 12, more than $26,000 has been raised through the fundraiser.
DCN will update this story as more information becomes available.
