Van Driver: "He Came Out of Nowhere."
NewsCentral Staff
Story Created:
Nov 20, 2012 at 7:33 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Nov 20, 2012 at 8:48 PM EDT
The driver of the Chevy van that hit motorcycle enthusiasts Delmar Singleton has a different account of Saturday night’s accident than Houston County investigators.
80-year-old James Edwards was behind the wheel of the Chevrolet Astro van that struck and killed Singleton at the intersection of Highway 247 and Davis Drive.
“He (Singleton) came out of nowhere,” Edwards said.
Edwards didn’t want to talk on camera but gave WGXA a phone interview. He said he had his cruise control set at 55 mph while driving down the highway home from work. While he was driving, he said he saw cars lined up at the Davis Drive stoplight. He recalls the light turning yellow and as he approached the intersection, he t-boned Singleton.
“I had already entered the intersection where the white lines are and that’s where he came out,” Edwards said. “He (Singleton) wasn’t stopped. He just came right out in the road.”
Edwards said he was hitting his brakes as he approached the intersection.
However, Edwards account is different from Houston County Investigator, Sean Alexander who said Edwards hit Singleton from behind. Alexander said Singleton was stopped at the red light in the northbound lane on Highway 247. He said Edwards plowed into Singleton and pushed the bike more than 100 yards down the road. The bike was embedded into the front of the van.
Singleton and Edwards headlights and taillights were on. Alexander said that Edwards had a valid driver’s license.
Despite his age, Edwards said he hasn’t had any problems driving.
“My sister said I drive too slowly,” he said. “No other problems.”
Edwards’s license was reissued last December.
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