Banks County wreck results in death of Commerce man

COMMERCE – A Commerce man died in a single-vehicle wreck in Banks County early Sunday.

Gordy Wright, public information officer for the Georgia State Patrol, said the crash occurred at 2:25 a.m. Sunday, six miles east of Commerce on Georgia Highway 326.

A pickup truck driven by 44-year-old Robert D. Barnett of Commerce was traveling west on Georgia 326 when he lost control in a curve, Wright said. The truck then left the road and overturned onto its top.

According to Wright, the vehicle then hit a culvert and Barnett was ejected. He said Barnett’s seatbelt was not in use, and alcohol is suspected as a contributing factor.

The vehicle caught fire and burned as a result of the crash. No other vehicles were involved.

Funeral services for Barnett will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Ivie Funeral Home Chapel in Commerce.

Officers in Elbert and Forsyth counties and Norcross also have reported to the state they investigated fatal wrecks this weekend, though details of those wrecks are not immediately available and will come from the respective agencies.