A young Eatonton man lost his life Tuesday morning on his way home from work. Jermaine Mathis, 26, of Eatonton, was returning from working the night shift at his job in Social Circle when he crashed into an oncoming vehicle on Harmony Road in Eatonton around 8 a.m., authorities say.
Putnam County Deputy Sheriff Todd Hudspeth happened upon the scene immediately after the crash happened and before anyone had called 911, Sheriff Howard Sills said. According to Hudspeth and Sgt. Justin Brock, Mathis was traveling in a 2011 Kia Optima on Harmony Road, headed toward GA Hwy. 44. A witness said as Memphis approached Scott Road, he crossed over the center line and drove straight into the oncoming lane of traffic and struck a 2009 BMW head-on.
Mathis was treated at the scene by Putnam County first responders and EMS personnel, and CPR was continued during his transport to Putnam General Hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries at the hospital, Hudspeth said.
The other driver, Demarkeo Lanard Towles, also 26 and of Eatonton, was flown by medical helicopter to Atrium Health Navicent Medical Center in Macon for treatment of what appeared to be a broken leg and other injuries, according to Hudspeth.
Neither driver was wearing a seat belt and the airbags deployed in both vehicles upon impact, the deputy said.
Friends of Mathis began expressing their grief on social media shortly after the accident.
“My heart is so heavy right now and I’m hurting really badly,” posted Charles Jones II, owner-operator at CJs Mobile Detailing Business in Eatonton. “This young man, Jermaine Mathis, used to work for me with my mobile detailing business, and all he ever wanted was to be successful. He always talked about his dreams and aspirations, and I totally believed that he was going to do exactly what he said he was going to do. He absolutely loved his Momma and his family. …I’m going to miss (him).”