A 19-year-old Evans woman was severely injured Thursday afternoon in a collision that closed an Evans road for nearly two hours.
Jessica Thompson, 19, of Bohler Drive in Evans, suffered life-threatening injuries when her Ford Explorer veered under the back end of a tractor trailer on Owens Road at Legion Drive in Evans, Columbia County sheriff's Deputy Ted Powers said.
Police say a U.S. Foodservice tractor trailer driver was waiting to make a right turn from Legion Drive onto eastbound Owens Road toward Washington Road just before 4 p.m. A vehicle, also traveling east on Owens Road, stopped to turn right onto Legion Drive, and the driver waved the truck driver, John Seitle, 45, of West Columbia, S.C., to make his turn.
Deputy Powers said Miss Thompson was traveling fast behind the vehicle that stopped. She could not stop in time and veered to the right, missing the car but lodging her SUV under the trailer of Mr. Seitle's truck, Deputy Powers said. He said he is unsure why Miss Thompson's vehicle didn't stop in time.
Miss Thompson was airlifted to Medical College of Georgia Hospital, where she was listed in critical condition Thursday evening, according to a hospital spokeswoman.
Miss Thompson was at fault in the wreck because she was traveling too fast for conditions, Deputy Powers said.
Reach Valerie Rowell at 868-1222, ext. 110, or valerie.rowell@augustachronicle.com.
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