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18-wheeler wreck claims one life
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Criminal charges are expected against an Alabama man after the tractor trailer he was driving collided with a car and killed an Effingham County woman Friday morning.


According to witnesses, the driver of the semi truck, Donald Patrick, ran a stop sign at the intersection of Blue Jay and Midland Roads and crashed into a Toyota sedan driven by Peggy Preveaux, 49, of Guyton. Preveaux was pronounced dead at the scene.


Patrick did not appear to be speeding as he drove west on Blue Jay Road, according to investigators. However, he never stopped at the intersection and drove right into Prevaux’s car, which was southbound on Midland Road.


“There was nothing she could’ve done to avoid to avoid it,” said Effingham County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Detective David Ehsanipoor.


Patrick was not injured in the crash, which happened around 8:30 a.m.


Charges against Patrick are pending based on the findings of the investigation, Ehsanipoor said. The Georgia State Patrol’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team will visit the scene to investigate.


A number of wrecks have occurred at the intersection of Blue Jay and Midland. The speed limit has been lowered and a caution light has been installed in recent years.


“There’s a stop sign and a flashing red light, and witnesses indicate he did not stop at the stop sign,” Ehsanipoor said. “He collided with and basically ran over the car.”