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A head-on collision yesterday afternoon on Dawsonville Highway (State Route 53) claimed the life of an Alpharetta man.

According to Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Specialist Investigator Ron Tomblin, the victim was identified as 62 year-old Terry Rettig of Kimball Bridge Road in Alpharetta.  Inv. Tomblin said that Rettig was traveling west on Dawsonville Highway in his 1981 Isuzu Pup pickup truck when it crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a 2006 Peterbuilt tanker truck.  Rettig was killed instantly.  The collision occurred at the intersection of Dawsonville Highway and Porter Lane.

The collision, which occurred at approximately 2:45 p.m., caused the road to be shut down for approximately 3 ½ hours while the wreckage was cleared.   The tanker was loaded with over 450 gallons of diesel fuel.    A Hazardous Materials (HazMat) team from the Forsyth County Fire Department stood by on the scene in case the truck’s load of diesel fuel began to leak.  Fortunately, only a small amount of diesel fuel leaked from the truck’s fuel tanks onto the roadway.

The driver of the tanker truck, Jerry Lamar McClure, age 31, of Gainesville, was not injured.  The truck is owned by Harrison Oil Company in Gainesville.  Both Rettig and McClure were alone in their respective vehicles.

Inv. Tomblin said the investigation into why Rettig’s pickup crossed the center line is continuing.  He did state that alcohol or drugs are not a factor and no charges will be filed as a result of the collision.