19-year-old could face charges after friend dies in crash

COWETA COUNTY, Ga. — Georgia State Patrol said a teen driver may be charged after an accident killed his friend in Coweta County on Vaughn Road in Newnan.

Police said Charles Yates, 19, lost control of his 2013 Mustang while going around a curve around 3 a.m. Sunday with Eli Holland, 17, and two other teens in the car.

Investigators think alcohol may have played a role and said charges against the 19-year-old driver are pending.

The owner of a house near the crash site said he's complained to the county before about the dangerous curve, and he's hoping something will finally be done about it after this latest crash.

"It's been sad,” Milt Boykin said.

He said several accidents happened at the location in the past, and he wants the county to do something to warn drivers.

Coweta County sent Channel 2’s Sophia Choi a statement, saying, "We will look further into the situation on Vaughan Road for any possible safety enhancements.

We expect to have information to present to the Board of Commissioners for their consideration at an upcoming meeting."

All four teens were current or former students at Northgate High School.

The school system sent Choi a statement, saying, in part, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the whole Northgate High School family following this tragic incident."

Holland's friends are using social media to show their love for him, using the hashtag #flyhigheli.

A neighbor, who stopped by his memorial at the crash site, said he was taken too soon.

"It's just sad that such a.. He's just so young, you know. Just for that to happen,” neighbor Aaron Waldrop said.

The family told Choi that Holland was very loved and never met a stranger.

A GoFundMe site to pay for his funeral, which is set, but they want to keep the arrangements private. %

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Cox Media Group