Road Rage Leads to Multiple Vehicle Accident, Injuries
The Georgia State Patrol (GSP) has released it’s Motor Vehicle Crash Report regarding it’s investigation into a road rage incident on August 14th that lead to an accident that involved four vehicles, two of which ended up off their wheels.
According to the report, Brandon Carl Slez, 34 of Port Richey, FL, who was driving a 2012 Chevy Malibu ( registered to a Newnan address), and Asher Thull, 20, of Grantville who was driving a 2017 Nissan Rouge were traveling south on the Newnan Coweta Bypass towards it’s intersection with East Hwy 16.
At the same time two uninvolved vehicles, a 2001 Ford F-150 driven by a male from Pine Mountain Valley, and a 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 driven by a male from Newnan, were traveling north on Newnan Crossing Bypass.
Investigators state that Slez and Thull were engaged in an active dispute as they traveled south on the Bypass. During the dispute Slez intentionally slammed on his brakes directly in front of Thull’s vehicle, a tactic commonly referred to ” Brake Checking “. This caused Thull to strike the rear of Slez’s vehicle and as a result both vehicles exited the roadway to the left striking the raised concrete curb leading to the grassy median.
As Slez’s vehicle struck the curb it began rotating counterclockwise while vaulting, as it was doing this it struck the drivers side of the 2023 GMC Sierra before Slez’s vehicle came to an uncontrolled rest on it’s roof.
As Slez’s vehicle was doing the above, Thull’s vehicle struck the curb and continued over the median before entering the on-coming lane of travel where it struck the drivers side of the 2001 Ford F-150 resulting in Thull’s vehicle coming to an uncontrolled stop on it’s passenger side in the north bound lanes of travel.
After the impact with Thull’s vehicle, the Ford F-150 began a counterclockwise spin forcing it to exit the roadway, hit the curb and come to a rest in the grassy median. The GMC Serria 1500 which was struck by Slez was forced to exit the roadway to the right before it came to a stop in the ditch beside the roadway.
The dispute and injuries
When asked by GSP Troopers, Slez admitted to being in a dispute with Thull and to Break Checking him prior to the accident. Slez also stated that Thull had done the same during the dispute.
For Thull’s part he stated that Slez had been ” flipping them off, ” and ” having road rage. ” He also admitted to driving at ” decently high speeds.” He continued that while in the inside travel lane, Slez, who was in the outside travel lane, swerved ” into the middle of the left lane ” and slammed on his breaks and he couldn’t avoid [ striking Slez ].
The driver of the Ford F-150 told investigators that while driving north he observed Thull’s vehicle coming across the median and slammed on his breaks but was unable to avoid being struck. The driver of the GMC Sierra 1500 said while driving he observed Slez’s vehicle ” flying ” at him and was unable to avoid being struck.
As a result of the accident the following 3 individuals were transported to the hospital for their injuries.
- Slez, the driver of the Malibu that ended up on it’s roof, was transported via ambulance to Grady Medical Center in Atlanta with serious injuries.
- A passenger in Thull’s vehicle which ended up on it’s side, was transported via ambulance to Piedmont Newnan Hospital with minor injuries.
- A passenger in the Ford F-150 was transported to Grady Medical Center with serious injuries.
Citations
As noted below, both Slez and Thull were given traffic citations stemming from the incident. While Slez’s charges could have resulted in his arrest due to his injuries and transport to Grady officers instead cited him and will swear out warrants for any arrestable offenses. This is often the case when suspects require medical treatment.
According to the Crash Report, GSP Troopers issued the following citations resulting from the incident.
Brandon Carl Slez was cited with the following
- Reckless Driving (O.C.G.A § 40-6-390)
- Aggressive Driving (O.C.G.A § 40-6-397)
- Turning movements; signals required on turning, changing lanes, slowing, or stopping (O.C.G.A § 40-6-123(c))
Asher Thull was cited with the following
- Aggressive Driving (O.C.G.A § 40-6-397)
- Following too closely (O.C.G.A § 40-6-49)
This incident is still active and additional charges are possible.
