Obituaries

Funeral On Saturday For Alpharetta Teen Killed By Tractor Trailer

Ethan Lee Matthews, 17, was walking on state highway in Stephens County when he was hit and killed Monday evening.

ALPHARETTA, GA -- A funeral is scheduled for Saturday to say goodbye to the Alpharetta teenager who was fatally hit by a tractor trailer in northeast Georgia. The service for Ethan Lee Matthews, 17, will be held at 2 p.m. Oct. 7 in Alpharetta. The family will receive friends from 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

According to the Georgia State Patrol, Matthews was walking along S.R. 17 just south of its intersection with S.R. 328 in the Stephens County town of Martin when he hit by a tractor trailer early Monday evening. A report released by the Georgia State Patrol indicates that the teen, who was wearing dark clothing, "dove" into the path of the tractor trailer at the last second from the right shoulder of the highway.

The 2015 Volvo tractor trailer, driven by 57-year-old Keith Inman of Rockingham, North Carolina, sustained "moderate, front-end" damage due to the collision (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app).

Find out what's happening in Alpharetta-Miltonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The Alpharetta Department of Public Safety previously said Matthews was reported missing and was investigating the teen's disappearance ahead of the fatal pedestrian accident.

According to his obituary, Matthews was a senior at Alpharetta High School "where he was much loved by those who knew him." He previously played football as a Raider and was a member of the school's orchestra. With a passion of snow skiing and diving, Matthews' kindness for others led him to volunteer with Camp Inspire and Special Olympics Georgia, his obit adds.

Find out what's happening in Alpharetta-Miltonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

He is survived by parents, Stewart and Sherry of Alpharetta; his dog, Shelby; uncle and aunt, Wesley and Gerri Day of Nicholasville, Kentucky; and cousins, Andrew and Lindsay Day, also Nicholasville, Kentucky. He's also survived by a paternal grandmother, Joy Page, and other cousins, aunts and uncles, all of whom reside in England.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider making a donation to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.


Image via Alpharetta Department of Public Safety

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Alpharetta-Milton