Funeral On Saturday For Brothers Killed In Wrong-Way Crash

ACWORTH, GA -- Friends and family will say goodbye to two brothers and Georgia Southern University students who died over the weekend in a fiery, wrong-way crash along Interstate 16 in Laurens County.

The funeral service for Deacon and Garrett Harris will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 at Cauble Park on Lake Acworth in Cobb County.

Georgia State Patrol troopers responded to the crash around 1:15 a.m. Nov. 26 on the eastbound side near mile marker 34. An initial investigation indicates a Toyota Avalon driven by Jared Adler, 27, of Sandy Springs, was traveling westbound in the left eastbound lane when it crashed head-on into Saturn L200, which was traveling eastbound on the interstate.

The Saturn caught fire and its occupants died in the collision, the agency added. Adler was transported to Navicent Heath Hospital for treatment of his injuries. The driver and passenger of the Saturn were identified as Deacon Harris, 20, and Garrett Harris, 18. Georgia Southern University confirmed to Patch that the Harris brothers were students at the Statesboro-based institution.

To help with funeral expenses, a GoFundMe account was created to help the family in its time of crisis. As of Thursday, more than $25,000 has been donated to a fund that was hoping to generate $24,000.

"A sincere THANK YOU goes out to everyone that has supported this family," organizer Shawn Roberts said in a message on the GoFundMe page. "By coming together we have reached our goal to cover expenses in less than three days and shown the boys family how loved and supported they are. Thank you so much! Deacon and Garrett we're special young men that were clearly loved by many and will be greatly missed."

According to their obituary, the brothers were former members of the JROTC program at Allatoona High School and were "deeply dedicated to engaging in community service and helping others." While at Georgia Southern, Deacon Harris served as an exemplary rode model while his brother went out of his way to make sure everyone felt included.

"They were not only brothers, but also best friends," the obituary goes in to state. "They were loyal and dear friends to many; loving sons and brothers to their family. Through their generosity they taught us that, although life may be fleeting, love is forever."

The brothers are survived by their father, Jack Harris; mother, Crystal Johnson; stepfather, Dan Johnson; siblings, Walker, Natalie and Ryder; grandparents, George and Carolyn Garner, Dale and Teresa Willis and Darlene Lamm; and aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family members and friends.

The Georgia State Patrol continues to investigate the crash. A spokesperson with the agency said its Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team's investigation could take several months to complete.

Image via GoFundMe