Mother, Daughter Killed in Weekend Hart Co. Wreck

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

A weekend accident in Hart County claims the life of a young mother and her two-year old daughter.

Georgia State Patrol Hartwell Post Commander Sergeant Al Whitworth said it happened at about 5 p.m. on Sunday on State Route 51, just west of Hartwell.

“Vehicle 1, a 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix was traveling west on Georgia 51. For reasons that remain under investigation at this time, Vehicle 1 traveled across the center line and struck Vehicle 2, a 2009 Toyota Tacoma head on,” Whitworth said.

19-year old Chancy Vickery of Hartwell died at the scene, as did her two-year old daughter who was properly restrained in her booster seat in the back seat.

Also, Whitworth said Vickery was seven months pregnant at the time of her death.

Her unborn baby also died.

Whitworth said a passenger in Vickery’s vehicle was injured.

“The passenger in the vehicle, Cameron Benton of Hartwell, was transported to Anderson with serious injuries,” Whitworth said. “The driver of the Toyota were from Iva, SC. The driver, Keith Burris and his passenger, Tonya, were also transported to Anderson with serious injuries.”

Benton was taken to AnMed Medical Center where he is being treated for non-life threatening injuries.

There is no word on the extent of the injuries for the couple in the Toyota.

According to Whitworth, neither alcohol nor drugs were a factor in the wreck.

However, Whitworth said his officers are investigating whether what he described as an electronic device Vickery was using at the time of the accident played a role in the accident.

Whitworth said overall, the New Year’s weekend was a busy one for the troopers in his new Post.

“From December 31st at 6p through midnight Sunday Post 52 troopers were very visible,” he said. “We focused on the Interstate and impaired drivers. In Elbert, Hart and Franklin Counties we issued 270 citations, over 300 warnings. We made four drug arrests and arrested 21 impaired drivers in those counties.”

The new GSP Hartwell Post opened officially January 1st with 14 full-time troopers and one civilian employee.