A serious road accident in Rabun County, Georgia, has raised questions after an official crash report found that a sheriff’s deputy failed to yield, leading to a collision with a teenage motorcyclist. The incident, which happened on April 18, left the 17-year-old injured and has now triggered legal action from the victim’s family.
Crash details on Stekoa Falls Road
The accident occurred in Rabun County on Stekoa Falls Road. According to the Georgia State Patrol report, Deputy Stacy Douglas Gray of the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office was driving a marked Ford Explorer.
At the same time, 17-year-old Mickey Worley from Clayton was riding a 2004 Suzuki motorcycle southbound through a series of curves on the road.
Deputy failed to yield, report says
The official report states that Deputy Gray entered the road from a private drive but failed to notice the approaching motorcycle. As a result, he did not yield the right-of-way to the rider.
In an effort to avoid the crash, Worley applied the brakes suddenly and moved into the opposite lane. Despite this, the motorcycle collided with the front bumper of the patrol vehicle, causing a serious impact.
Motorcyclist injured in collision
The force of the crash threw Worley over the patrol vehicle. Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene, and he was taken to the Northeast Georgia Medical Center for treatment.
Officials confirmed that he suffered injuries, but further details about his condition have not been publicly released.
Visibility issues noted at the scene
Deputy Gray told investigators that he had been parked nearby monitoring traffic after receiving complaints about speeding motorcycles. He said he waited around 20 minutes before entering the road slowly.
However, the investigating officer noted that visibility was limited due to a steep embankment. The sight distance from the deputy’s position was measured at only 111 feet, which may have contributed to the crash.
Witness account supports sequence of events
A witness, Boyce Speed from Tiger, Georgia, reported hearing the motorcycle accelerate before suddenly going quiet. Moments later, he heard the sound of the collision.
This account supports the timeline described in the crash report.
Citations issued to both parties
Following the investigation, Deputy Gray was cited under Georgia law for failing to yield while entering or crossing a highway.
Meanwhile, Worley was also cited for operating a vehicle without a valid driver’s licence.
These citations highlight that both individuals may have contributed to the situation, though the deputy is listed as the primary party at fault.
Legal action initiated by victim’s family
After the crash, attorney Gus McDonald, representing the Worley family, issued a formal notice to Mark Gerrells.
The notice requests that all evidence related to the crash be preserved. This includes:
- The patrol vehicle
- Electronic data
- Dash camera footage
The legal team has also warned against repairing or modifying the vehicle until an independent inspection is completed.
No official response from sheriff
At this time, Sheriff Mark Gerrells has not provided any public comment regarding the incident involving his deputy.
The case may continue to develop as legal proceedings move forward and more information becomes available.
