Sara Abbott’s final moments came in the back of an ambulance, her pulse fading before a helicopter could arrive to airlift her to a trauma center. Just minutes earlier, her husband, 83-year-old James Abbott, had been pronounced dead at the scene of the horrific crash that shattered their quiet afternoon. The tragedy unfolded around 3 p.m.
on Highway 16 at Pea Ridge Road, when their Ford Flex was struck by a Georgia Power truck making a left turn into their lane.According to the Georgia State Patrol, the truck, driven by 36-year-old Matthew Crumbley, failed to yield while attempting to turn, colliding with the couple’s vehicle with devastating force.
The impact crushed the Ford, instantly killing James and critically injuring Sara, who was rushed from the wreckage by paramedics. Despite their desperate efforts to stabilize her for air transport, she succumbed to her injuries in the ambulance, leaving behind a legacy of love and partnership that had spanned more than six decades.
Crumbley was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and is expected to recover. Authorities later confirmed he will face misdemeanor charges of homicide by vehicle and failure to yield while turning left. The investigation remains ongoing, but officials believe visibility and misjudgment of distance may have played roles in the collision.The deaths of James and Sara Abbott have left a deep void in their community,
where neighbors described them as kind, faithful, and inseparable. The couple was known for their devotion to one another, often seen together at church events and local gatherings. Their sudden loss serves as a somber reminder of how quickly life can change on the road, and how even a moment’s mistake can bring irreversible heartbreak to families and communities alike.
