Brothers Killed In Head-On Crash On I-16: Reports

LAURENS COUNTY, GA — Two brothers who attended Georgia State University were killed early Sunday in a head-on collision on Interstate 16 in Laurens County, according to a media report. Jack Deacon Harris, 20, and Garrett Harris, 18, died after a wrong-way driver struck their car head-on, WSB-TV Channel 2 reported.

The brothers were from Acworth, Channel 2 reported. In a statement, the university said its community is "saddened" to learn of the accident.

"Our deepest sympathies go out to their family and friends and our thoughts are with them during this time," the Statesboro-based institution said in a statement provided to Patch. "Counseling is available for our students as we all grieve this tragedy."

State troopers responded at about 1:15 a.m. Sunday to the collision on eastbound I-16 near mile post 34 in Laurens County, the Georgia State Patrol said. A Toyota Avalon driven by Jared Adler, 27, of Sandy Springs, was going the wrong way, traveling westbound in the left eastbound lane, when it struck the Saturn L200 driven by Jack Deacon Harris, the agency said.

"The Saturn was engulfed in flames and the occupants succumbed to their injuries," the State Patrol said in a statement.

Adler was taken to a local hospital for treatment. the State Patrol said charges are pending in the case, and the patrol's Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team is investigating the accident.

Family members told Channel 2 that the brothers, from Acworth, were coming home from Thanksgiving break when the crash happened. Deacon was a junior at Georgia Southern and Garrett was a freshman.

The family has set up a GoFundMe page for the two brothers.

Image: GoFundMe page for the Harris brothers