Fatal Head-On Collision on U.S. Highway 1 in Toombs County

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A fatal car accident on U.S. Highway 1 took the life of one man and left a woman in critical condition on Tuesday, November 18.

Oliver Coleman, 86, of Swainsboro, was driving a white Ford pickup truck northbound along the highway near the road’s intersection with Green Oak Road while Yolanda Orozco-Delgado, 71, of Lyons, was driving a white van southbound on the highway. According to a bystander who witnessed the crash, Coleman traveled into Delgado’s lane, hitting her head-on. Toombs County first responders were dispatched to the accident around 8 p.m. on November 19. Because both parties were trapped, member of the Toombs County Fire Department worked to extricate Coleman and Delgado from their respective vehicles while Toombs-Montgomery EMS medics worked to render emergency aid to the crash victims.

Delgado was taken by ambulance to the Air Evac Base 91 in Vidalia, where an Air Evac unit from Waycross flew her in critical condition to Savannah. Coleman was rushed by ambulance to Memorial Health Meadows Hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.

The crash scene was turned over to the Georgia State Patrol Post 18 – Reidsville for further investigation. The preliminary investigation confirmed that Coleman was traveling northbound and Delgado was traveling southbound on U.S. Highway 1 when Coleman’s truck veered into the southbound lane, striking Delgado’s van head-on.

Investigators believe that Coleman suffered a medical issue, causing him to lose control of the vehicle.