A Midway man died Saturday in a motorcycle wreck near the Bryan/Chatham county line.
George Wesley Thomas, 38, of Carlyene Drive on the Isle of Wight, died from injuries sustained after he lost control of his bike around 2 p.m. on Chief of Love Road, according to a release from the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police.
“I’m devastated. I’d say he was my best friend, and he’s going to be greatly missed,” said Joe Jackson, a neighbor. “He was a good man. He had a lot of friends, he loved to fish, loved riding his motorcycle, and he loved his daughters and he would do anything in the world for you. It was a tragedy that he got taken from us.”
Thomas leaves two daughters, Ashley and Kendell Thomas. His passing is another heartbreak for the Isle of Wight family.
Thomas was the stepfather of Liberty County High School student Tiffany York, who in December 2011 was killed in Long County alongside boyfriend Michael Roark.
The investigation and prosecution of four soldiers suspected in those deaths has led to revelations about the Forever Enduring, Always Ready, or FEAR, militia, which allegedly plotted to overthrow the government. Subsequent legal proceedings indicate more than 10 people were involved in the plot.
Born in Homerville, Thomas’ family moved here when he was young and he lived in the Midway area for 37 years.
Visitation with the family will be from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Carter Funeral Home Oglethorpe Chapel. His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Westside Baptist Church.
“I know the family has asked that instead of flowers, to make cash donations to help the girls out, and I know Wes, he wouldn’t want flowers anyway,” Jackson said. “But he would do anything for those girls.”
The accident occurred on a paved road near Highway 17 and Kings Ferry Park, where Thomas’ friends and family say poor signage and an abrupt end of the road after a blind curve are factors that led to the crash.
“I think Chatham County should have a couple more signs up at least down through there, some warning or some rumble strips … this could have been avoided, and I know there’s been other accidents in that place,” Jackson said. “Just that one little sign a couple miles away is not enough … it was my understanding that the road got washed out and the county chose not to reopen it.”
The Courier tried to verify the road’s closure and condition, but Chatham County Manager Russ Abolt on Monday declined to comment on the signs state of the road.
“I will not comment on the facts that led up to the horrible loss of life,” Abolt said.
Jackson said Thomas used to ride the road before it was closed, but he said Thomas likely had not been on the road for more than a year.
“I just know that back in the day, a lot of kids used to run around that way quite a bit, and I guess it was a place where people used to go racing,” Jackson added.
The Courier also attempted to contact Chatham County District 6 Commissioner Lori Brady about the condition of the road. She did not respond by press time.