On a frigid Monday morning in Elbert County, Georgia Highway 72 took a life in a quiet tragedy that’s rattled the local community. 67‑year‑old Donald B. Hawck of Elberton lost control of his pickup truck on an icy curve near Willis Drive and Calhoun Falls Highway and died at the scene, officials said.
Troopers with the Georgia State Patrol believe Hawck was driving his 2006 Chevrolet Silverado eastbound just after 9 a.m. when the pickup hit a patch of ice on the roadway. The truck slid off the road, crossed the centerline, and struck a ditch. That impact caused it to flip onto its side and come to rest facing south.
Responders found Hawck partially ejected from the vehicle. Despite quick arrival by emergency personnel, he was pronounced dead right there on the highway shoulder. There were no other vehicles involved and no additional injuries reported.
Winter weather had blanketed parts of East Georgia overnight, creating slick spots on secondary roads like Highway 72 where moisture froze in shaded areas. This stretch of highway is known to be hazardous in cold conditions because of curves and shaded pavement that can harbor “black ice.”
The Georgia State Patrol pointed to icy road conditions and worn tires as key contributing factors in the crash. Investigators do not believe alcohol or drug impairment played a role in the deadly accident.
Nearby law enforcement and the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office had fields calls for several weather‑related incidents that morning, underscoring how treacherous travel became on seemingly ordinary county roads. Drivers in the region are routinely reminded to slow down, leave extra space between vehicles, and avoid travel when temperatures hover around freezing.
Hawck’s death is a sobering reminder that even familiar roads can turn dangerous in winter weather. The Georgia State Patrol continues to investigate as friends, family, and neighbors remember a man taken too soon on a chilly Georgia morning.
