Sheriff’s van collides with power pole; deputies, inmates injured

Published 1:21 pm Thursday, July 17, 2025

SPARTA, Ga. — A deputy with the Walton County Sheriff’s Office apparently fell asleep while driving a transport van with a fellow deputy and six inmates, slamming into a utility pole.

The incident happened in Sparta July 11, local and state authorities say.

The two deputies were injured along with all six inmates, according to a wreck report filed by a trooper with the Georgia State Patrol post in Milledgeville.

The mishap occurred shortly before 6:30 a.m. near the Dollar General Store and across from the new location of the Sparta Police Department on Ga. Highway 15.

State Patrol Trooper Cpl. Kevin Kirby identified the driver of the 2019 Dodge Ram Promaster 35000 van as 64-year-old Loyd Grant Satterfield, according to a wreck report obtained by The Union-Recorder.

Kirby, who investigated the single-vehicle crash, said Satterfield was traveling south on Ga. Highway 15. 

“The driver failed to maintain lane, crossed the center line, left the roadway and struck a power pole that was on the edge of the roadway,” Kirby said.

After impact, the van continued to travel approximately 60 feet south before it came to an uncontrolled final rest on top of the power pole, the state trooper said.

Kirby said Satterfield told him he was tired and was starting to fall asleep prior to the mishap.

“He stated that he was going to pull over on the side of the road once he reached Sparta,” Kirby said in his report. “He stated he fell asleep he made it to Sparta and crashed into the power pole.”

A portion of the front windshield on the driver’s side was knocked out from the impact of the van having stuck the utility pole.

Ten people were reportedly injured in the crash. Local authorities notified emergency medical services from both Greene and Washington counties for additional help at the scene.

The two deputies were treated at the scene by firefighters/first responders with Hancock County Fire Rescue, while the eight inmates were treated at the scene and taken by ambulances to Washington County Regional Medical Center in Sandersville.

The second deputy, who was riding in the front passenger seat, was identified as Samuel Duff, 56.

Washington County Sheriff Joel Cockran said additional law enforcement personnel were dispatched to the hospital to provide security for those inmates.

The injured inmates were identified by the state patrol trooper as: Maurice Radford, 46, of Warner Robins; Lee Burce, 45, of Monroe; Ryan Bowling, 28, of Effingham, Illinois; Dedrick Brown, 21, of Monroe; Duavonte’ Singleton, 31, of Stone Mountain; and Eric Veasley, 37, of Monroe.