Serious Injury Collision
January 13, 2000
Dawnville Road at Groves Road
On January 13, 2000 at approximately 07:45 hours, Deputies with the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office responded to a two vehicle collision on Dawnville Road at its intersection with Groves Road in Whitfield County.
On arrival Deputies located a white 1996 Mazda 626 and a red 1999 Ford Explorer which had been involved in a collision. Accident Reconstructionists with the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office Traffic Enforcement Unit were requested by on scene officers to handle the investigation.
Reconstructionists report that the 96 Mazda was eastbound on Dawnville Road. The driver, Kristi J. Gazaway, 25, of Dalton, attempted to re-secure a child's seat belt in the rear passenger compartment of the vehicle. The Mazda left the right shoulder of the roadway where the driver attempted to regain control and return to the lane of travel. The driver was unable to regain control once the vehicle was back on the pavement. The Mazda crossed over the centerline where it was struck in passenger side by the 99 Ford Explorer.
Passengers within the 96 Mazda included the above listed driver along with Jarrett Seth Gazaway, 15 months, and Logan Drew Gazaway, 3 years of age. The children were rear seat passengers of the Mazda. Jarrett S. Gazaway sustained serious injuries as a result of the collision and was subsequently air lifted to T. C. Thompson's Children's Hospital in Chattanooga. Logan Drew Gazaway was transported to Hamilton Medical Center in Dalton along with his mother where both were treated for non-life threatening injuries.
The driver of the 1999 Ford Explorer was identified as Mrs. Lisa Burgess, 35, of Dalton, Georgia. Two children were in the Explorer at the time of the collision. Joshua Burgess, 8 years of age and Ansley Burgess who is 4 years old. Only minor injuries were sustained by occupants of the Explorer.
At the present time, no charges have been filed in the case as it is still under investigation.
