Head-on collision claims life of Putnam Co. man

Oct. 5—EATONTON, Ga. — A head-on collision between two cars left one man dead and another critically injured Tuesday morning in Putnam County, local authorities say.

The collision is believed to have happened about 8 a.m. near the intersection of Harmony and Scott roads.

The man who lost his life was identified as 26-year-old Jermaine Mathis of Eatonton, according to Putnam County Sheriff Howard R. Sills.

Mathis was treated at the scene by firefighters/first responders with Putnam County Fire Rescue and personnel from Putnam County Emergency Medical Services. He was taken by ambulance to Putnam General Hospital in Eatonton where he died a short time later, Sills said.

The man who survived the crash was flown by medical helicopter from the scene to Atrium Health Navicent, The Medical Center in Macon. The sheriff identified him as Demarkeo Lanard Towles, 26, also of Eatonton.

Towles was treated at the scene of the wreck, too, by local emergency first responders before he was flown by Air Evac helicopter to the Macon hospital.

The extent of his injuries were not immediately known as of press time.

"He was alert and able to communicate with deputies at the scene," Sills said.

The wreck was discovered by Putnam County Sheriff's Office Deputy Todd Hudspeth while he was on routine patrol along Harmony Road.

Sills said Mathis was driving a 2011 Kia Optima eastbound on Harmony Road. The preliminary investigation revealed that he crossed the centerline and went into the westbound lane of traffic where he struck a 2009 BMW 335 head-on. The BMW was being driven by Towles.

The collision remains under investigation by the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.