5 still in hospital after wreck

No charges have been filed in Saturday's fatal motorcycle wreck near the Columbia-McDuffie county line.

Five people were still being treated Sunday for injuries from the crash that occurred during a charity motorcycle ride.

Trooper Powell Allen, of the Georgia State Patrol's Thomson post, said 11 vehicles - 10 motorcycles and a Buick LeSabre - were involved in the accident along County Line Road that killed Augustan Leroy Malick, 52, on Saturday morning.

Officials still are uncertain about the cause of the accident, which is why experts will work this week to piece together the details, Trooper Allen said.

"We're going to photo the scene from the air, map it out, catalog everything on computer to see exactly what happened," he said. "No fault has been determined yet."

At least 40 motorcycles were riding together as part of a Relay for Life cancer benefit that started at Harlem United Methodist Church. Witnesses told The Augusta Chronicle that one of the first bikes collided with the Buick traveling in the opposite direction and that the Buick then hit more motorcycles. Emergency workers took nine people to hospitals.

Mr. Malick was pronounced dead at the scene. Columbia County Deputy Coroner Vernon Collins said an autopsy showed he died of multiple blunt force injuries.

Those taken to Medical College of Georgia Hospital were: Kathy Malick, 48, of Augusta; Elisia Hodges, 40, of Martinez; Tracy Bates, 36, hometown unavailable; Carl Albritton, 54, of Bartow, Ga.; Johnny Beard, 41, of Augusta; and Jimmy Barnes, 57, of Hephzibah. Ms. Malick, Ms. Hodges and Mr. Albritton were in fair condition Sunday. Ms. Bates and Mr. Beard were released, and Mr. Barnes was in good condition, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Motorcyclist Donald "Lucky" Birkinshaw, 71, of Harlem, was treated at University Hospital, where he was in good condition Sunday, a hospital spokeswoman said.

The driver of the LeSabre, Meredith Young, 26, and her 11-month-old daughter, Laura Young, were treated at McDuffie Regional Medical Center and released, a spokeswoman said Sunday.

Reach Dena Levitz at (706) 823-3339 or dena.levitz@augustachronicle.com.