Vehicle accident claims Damascus man
Picture and article courtesy of Early County News

There is a reason that drag racing is illegal on public roads -- it's deadly!

Vehicle that claimed the life of a Damascus man

A Blakely man, 39-year-old Andrew Tinson, was killed late Sunday afternoon when he lost control of the Monte Carlo he was racing on Radney Road approximately two miles east of Damascus. The driver of the Ford Mustang that Tinson was racing, 32-year-old Vincent O. Robinson of Baker County, also lost control of his vehicle which flipped, crushing the roof of the vehicle. Robinson suffered injuries to his leg and arm, but his life was spared when a roll bar barely supported the roof over the driver's head. Official information from the Georgia State Patrol was sketchy Tuesday afternoon as the investigation was still underway.

While there was reportedly a crowd of spectators at the scene of the race, authorities believe the call they received at 7:01 p.m. was delayed by as much as 20 minutes.

"It was one of those situations where when officers arrived on the scene nobody seemed to know anything," Sheriff Jimmie Murkerson said.

When officers arrived at the scene it was obvious that Tinson had been killed instantly in the crash. Robinson had disappeared from the scene, but was found later that evening in the Bainbridge hospital emergency room.

"It appeared someone had also tried to remove Robinson's vehicle from the scene," Murkerson said.

Robinson was released from the Bainbridge hospital and is being held in the Early County Jail on charges in connection with the race and accident.