UPDATE: Woman killed in crash on Mike Padgett Highway - WFXG FOX54 Augusta - Your News One Hour Earlier

UPDATE: Woman killed in crash on Mike Padgett Highway

Posted: Updated:
By Elizabeth Rawlins - email
By Mark Barber - bio | email
Source: Family Source: Family
AUGUSTA, GA (WFXG) -

Toni Erkens, 41, was killed Thursday afternoon when the Honda Civic she was driving collided with a Department of Natural Resources truck.

The fatal crash happened at the intersection of Mike Padgett Highway and Bennock Mill Road about 2:30 p.m.

The force of the accident ripped apart the Civic.

Erkens' family came to the crash site to pick up what they could find; they left with her sunglasses and medicine because they say it's all they have left of her to hold on to.

Erkens' nephew, Chuck Bridges says she was battling medical issues and just got out of the hospital.

"Just got released, everything was good, doctor didn't need to see her again for three years and she was just taking a friend to work. She will be missed," Bridges, said.  

Erkens leaves behind four sisters and a 16-year-old daughter.

The driver of the truck, Seth Thompson, was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Deputies say Thompson works for the state as a wildlife technician and he was driving a Department of Natural Resources vehicle.

The Chief Deputy Coroner, Mark Bowen says several factors could have caused the crash. 

"A lot of vehicles, a lot of speed," Bowen, said.

Investigators don't know if the drivers were speeding yet; but Bridges hopes it didn't play a role.

"If he was speeding, he took someone very dear from us. This has always been a bad place right here, I just hope he wasn't speeding," Bridges, said.

The Georgia State Patrol is investigating the crash.

 

Previous story:

There has been a fatal crash on Mike Padgett Highway and Bennock Road involving a red Honda Civic and a state game vehicle. 

The woman driving the Honda Civic was killed and her family just arrived on the scene and identified her as 41 year old Toni Erkens.

According to Richmond County Deputy Coroner Mark Bowen, the driver of the Honda Civic was attempting to make a left turn off of Mike Padgett Highway when the driver of a state game vehicle crashed into her car.

The state employee was rushed to the hospital and his condition is unknown.

Richmond County Sheriff Deputies and Georgia State Troopers are on the scene right now conducting their investigation.

FOX54 is on the scene and will continue to update this developing story.

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