Victim in fiery east Athens pickup truck crash identified

By Joe Johnson

The driver of a pickup truck that burst into flames when it wrecked on the east side of town last weekend has been identified as 25-year-old Melvin Way Jr. of Athens. 

Authorities were not able to immediately identify Way because he was unrecognizable from his entire body being burned, according to Athens-Clarke County Coroner Sonny Wilson.

He said that positive identification was achieved Thursday at with the assistance of dental records at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation forensics laboratory in Decatur.

The cause of the fatal crash remained under investigation by county police.

It happened shortly before 3 a.m. Sunday when Way’s pickup ran off the road at Vine and Herman streets and struck a utility pole.

The vehicle was totally engulfed in flames by the time first responders arrived.

Police asked for anyone with information regarding this incident to contact Officer First Class Cameron at caleb.cameron@accgov.com or 762-400-7191.