WALTON, GA, (April 22, 2026) – A chain-reaction crash in a Walton County construction zone Wednesday afternoon claimed the life of a 37-year-old man, according to the Georgia State Patrol.
Authorities said the crash occurred around 3 p.m. on Georgia Highway 20 near Center Hill Church Road. A driver operating a white Chevrolet Silverado was reportedly distracted while approaching stopped traffic and failed to slow down in time.
The Silverado struck the rear of a gray Toyota 4Runner driven by Brandon Stephens, 37. The impact pushed Stephens’ vehicle into a silver Ford Escape before the 4Runner spun off the roadway, overturned, and came to rest upright in a private driveway.
The Ford Escape was then forced across eastbound lanes and onto the south shoulder, where it collided with a gray Honda Pilot. That vehicle was subsequently pushed into a black Jeep Wrangler.
Stephens was pronounced dead as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.
The driver of the Chevrolet Silverado faces multiple charges, including second-degree vehicular homicide, distracted driving, and following too closely.
The Georgia State Patrol Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team continues to investigate the incident.
