One dead, three injured when car crashes into road construction in Kingsland

KINGSLAND, Ga. — A construction zone crash in Kingsland left a man dead and sent another to the hospital in critical condition.

Action News Jax heard from a member of that Camden County crew who saw it all.  He has a message for you the next time you're on the road.

TRENDING: 

"Everybody's in a hurry, and whatever you're in a hurry for is never more important than someone's life, period," said Matt McGill.

Troopers said the driver of this car went into a lane under construction, hitting three workers on Laurel Island Parkway.

They said the 77-year-old driver was only stopped when he plowed into an excavator, which also had a worker inside.

"It sent them up in the air," McGill said.  "It was pretty bad."

McGill rushed to George Chester, 54, knowing his injuries were severe.  He held Chester's head in his hands so it wouldn't be on the asphalt as a woman did CPR.

"When the ambulance came up, he had basically taken his last breath in the middle of the road," McGill said.  "So, it was a pretty terrible experience."

Chester was killed.
Family said James Earnest, 41, suffered broken legs and lacerations, but is in stable condition.

STAY UPDATED: Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on breaking stories

"These guys basically just got blindsided by a car from behind at about anywhere from 50 to 60 miles per hour," McGill said.

A 2017 FHP report states 19 people were killed, and 109 people suffered incapacitating injuries in work zone crashes.

Troopers said charges are pending and haven't said what they believe led up to this, but McGill hopes people will see this and change how they drive through construction zones.

"We want to get through with the project just as fast as you guys want us out of there, so but we also want to come home," McGill said.  "We want to see our families."

Cox Media Group