January Hartley and William Swint, both identified as deceased, perished in a serious motor vehicle accident occurring within Columbia County.

January Hartley and William Swint, both identified as deceased, perished in a serious motor vehicle accident occurring within Columbia County.

The tragic loss of life resulted from a head-on collision involving their Ford Focus, which transpired in Martinez.

William Swint, aged 68, and his step-daughter, January Hartley, aged 42, both residents of Martinez, were pronounced deceased at the scene according to the sheriff’s office report. Swint was confirmed as the driver of their vehicle at the time of the incident.

The responsible party, Willie James Wilson, a 50-year-old from Appling, remains under medical treatment at Doctors Hospital. Charges related to this case are anticipated after Wilson’s discharge, informed Sheriff’s Major Steve Morris. No official photograph of Wilson has been released.

The collision began Monday at approximately 5:45 p.m., on Washington Road close to Old Evans Road, where Wilson collided with the rear of a Mitsubishi Outlander operated by Taylor Normington, aged 26. Despite this initial impact, Wilson continued driving.

Subsequently, Wilson drove further down Washington Road, near Casa Linda Drive, where he crossed into opposite lanes. This action led to a direct head-on strike with the Ford Focus, which was occupied by Swint and Hartley. The force of the collision flipped the Focus and pushed it into the driver’s side of a red Kia Forte being driven by Shanequa Freeman, aged 33, of Augusta. Freeman sustained injuries and was transported to Doctors Hospital.

Swint and Hartley, passengers in the overturned Ford Focus, did not survive the collision. Their vehicle ended up upside down, specifically impacting the driver’s side.