Two Wilkinson County teachers were involved in a vehicular crash Oct. 20 on U.S. 441 near State Route 540, according to the Georgia State Patrol.
Social studies teacher Tinetta Smith was driving northbound in the second lane on Georgia Highway 29 with passenger and Wilkinson County High School head basketball coach Xavier Whipple. Smith reportedly reacted to a deer crossing the roadway causing her to cross the centerline, lose control of the vehicle, and rotate clockwise. Smith attempted to correct the vehicle causing it to rotate counterclockwise before leaving the roadway.
The vehicle slid off the east shoulder approximately 95 feet before re-entering the highway. The right front wheel gouged the asphalt causing the vehicle to overturn four times. While the vehicle flipped, both Smith and Whipple were ejected from their seats due to being unrestrained. The vehicle came to a complete stop facing westbound in the grass median.
They were both taken to Atrium Health Navicent in Macon to receive medical attention. On Oct. 22, troopers were notified by the Baldwin County coroner that Smith had passed from her injuries. At the time of the report, Whipple was in critical but stable condition.