Two killed in Hwy 80 wreck
By Elizabeth Billips Associate Editor

Deputies suspect drugs or alcohol are to blame for a fiery wreck that left two men dead Sunday.

Owen Lavender, 27, was killed instantly when a Suburban driven by Elliot John Williams, 29, crossed the center line and collided with his pickup on Highway 80 West around 7:40 p.m.

Mr. Williams' passenger and 21-year-old cousin, David Anderson Parris, the son of a Waynesboro dentist, was pronounced dead at Medical College of Georgia later that night.

A third passenger and cousin, Marcus Rogers, 21, was hurt, but is expected to fully recover.

According to Major Larry Lewis of the Burke County Sheriff's Office, Mr. Williams walked away from the accident scene and was found by state troopers at his Anderon Road hime, about five miles away.

Mr. Williams, who was described as "impaired" at the time, told them he swerved to miss what he thought was a cow in the road, but hit something else. He said he didn't know what it was, Major Lewis said.

Mr Williams told officers he called our his cousin's name and became scared and left when he didn't answer.

According to Major Lewis, a witness was trying to pull Mr. Lavender from his wrecked GMC when it burst into flames.

Tuesday afternoon, Burke County Deputy Coroner Susan Salemi confirmed that Mr. Lavender died from head injury sustained in the wreck, not from the fire.

According to his friends, Mr. Lavender was a newleywed of six months who had recently gone into remission after battling a potentially deadly form of cancer.

The Georgia State Patrol's Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team (SCRT) is investigating the accident but did not have information available at press time Tuesday. 

While local deputies anticipate GSP filing charges against Mr. Mr. Williams, no warrants have been issued through the Burke County Magistate Court.

The results of Mr. Williams drug and alcohol tests are still pending.