Weekend fatal wreck in Franklin County claims life of Martin Man

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR

A weekend head-on collision has claimed the life of a Martin man and left a Toccoa man critically injured.

It happened Saturday evening at about 8p according to Trooper 1st Class Cody Andrews with the GSP Hartwell Post 52.

“A vehicle driven by James Leslie Caudell of Martin was traveling south in the northbound lane of Highway 17. At first, he sideswiped a vehicle that was traveling northbound just north of Sunset Campgrounds. He kept going southbound in the left lane about three-quarters of a mile when he hit a second vehicle, driven by William Hunter Bell of Toccoa head-on,” Andrews said. “I believe Mr. Caudell passed away at the time of the impact.”

WNEG sister station WLHR spoke to Franklin County Coroner Scott O’Barr who said Caudell died of multiple traumas to the body due to the crash impact.

Trooper Andrews said it is not known why Caudell was driving on the wrong side of the road.

Bell was taken by ambulance to Greenville Memorial Hospital where he is listed in critical condition.

Bell is the son of Stephens County Commissioner Dennis Bell.

The extent of Hunter Bell’s injuries is not known.