Brother of victim claims Sheriff’s Office could have prevented fatal accident

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Terry Silvers

HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Terry Silvers, 52, a resident of Hiawassee, suffered fatal injuries Saturday, Feb. 23, in Clay County, NC, after the pickup truck that he was driving collided with another vehicle on NC-69. FYN released information three days after the deadly crash, divulging that Silvers had been involved in an accident in Towns County the night prior to his death.

Towns County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Friday evening incident on Bugscuffle Road, and Silvers was released without charges. The accident report stated that alcohol or substance screenings were not conducted. Towns County Sheriff’s Office reported that the accident was the result of shifting firewood in the bed of Silvers’ truck.

Multiple individuals contacted FYN to speak on behalf of Silvers, two of whom requested to go on-record, asserting that they believe Silvers would still be alive had local law enforcement reacted to prior incidents in a different manner.

“Towns County Sheriff’s Office needs to be investigated,” Mark Silvers, brother of the victim, began. “Not only did Terry wreck the night before. but there were more times before that. Towns County law was on scene, and my brother was let go. He should have been locked up. People were telling them that he was messed up, and if they’d done their job the night before the fatal night, my brother would be alive. Towns County law should be fully responsible for his death. If they’d done their job and locked him up Friday night, my brother would still be with us today. He’s been let go many times.”

Terry Silvers accident

Most recent social media profile photograph of Terry Silvers

Mark Silvers went on to say that his brother battled an opioid addiction. “Even though he wasn’t drunk, the law should have known he was on drugs. A lot people told them, ‘What was it going to take? Him to kill someone or kill himself before they do something?’ and by that time, it was too late.”

Silvers iterated that numerous individuals had conveyed to Towns County Sheriff’s Office on multiple occassions that Terry Silvers was under the influence of narcotics, and that Silvers should not return behind the wheel without facing legal consequences.

Belinda Munger, a former Towns County 911 dispatcher and neighbor of Silvers, additionally contacted FYN, stating that Silvers had a history of drug use and accidents. On different occassions, Munger stated that Towns County Sheriff’s Office responded to accidents which Silvers was involved, although the now-deceased was not taken into custody. Munger reported that in December, 2017, Silvers was involved in an accident in front of her home. Munger said that she described what ensued to responding deputies. “We also had told them he was under the influence of pills and it was very obvious…,” Munger explained. “I was very distraught, had he not hit the tree, he would have ran into my house, into my son’s bedroom. The officers advised my neighbor, when she showed up, that they did not have to notify her, even though it was her property where he wrecked. I tried to reach out to (Towns County) Sheriff (Chris) Clinton, but there was no attempt of a returned phone call from him. Nothing more came of this call.”

 

“Middle of the year, 2018, as I was driving down our road,” Munger continued, “I met Terry as he was coming at me head on. I got off of the roadway to avoid being hit head on. I almost went over the embankment, and stopped. But the subject kept driving, even though I was trying my hardest to get his attention. He looked up and jerked the wheel making his way back into his lane, but still kept driving. I immediately called the sheriff’s office and left a message for Sheriff Clinton. But once again, there was no attempt of a return phone call,” Munger stated.
Munger recalled an additional accident that occurred four-to-five months prior to Silvers’ death. Munger testified to alerting Towns County Sheriff’s Office once again that Silvers was under the influence of narcotics. “I was very open with letting them know how ridiculous it was that they did not think anything was wrong with Terry. It was very obvious, he couldn’t even hardly keep his eyes open and slurring his speech…” Munger attested. “Then, I asked both officers, ‘Will it take him killing someone for you all to do something with him?’ I told them how ridiculous it was that, once again, they were letting him go free knowing how he was under the influence of pills…Later that day, I reached out to Sheriff Clinton one last time, and left a message with his secretary. But like usual, there was no attempt of a return phone call from the sheriff. The LT called and told me he would speak with the officer that had taken the call. I never heard anymore from anyone about this call. My concern was that I had family and friends that drove on these roads. It is the sheriff’s office job to protect us innocent drivers.”

 

Upon suggestion from a confidential source, FYN filed an open record request to review 911 audio of the “be-on-the-lookout” (BOLO) issued to Towns County Sheriff’s Office immediately prior to Silvers death.

Heather Segars, a local resident, called 911 to report Silvers’ white Toyota driving recklessly on Highway 76, immediately prior to the fatal accident. Throughout the audio, Segars pleads for law enforcement to quickly respond. “He’s gonna kill somebody” is repeated on the graphic tape.

In the recording, a blaring siren can be heard as Segars pulls behind Silvers into the parking lot of Cornerstone BP, at the intersection of Highway 76 and Highway 17, in Young Harris. “There’s the law right there that’s passing me,” Segar says, to which the dispatcher responds,”Yeah, they’re going to another call.” Segars then identified the driver as Terry Silvers. Segars continued to follow Silvers’ vehicle as it exited the Cornerstone BP parking lot, headed north on Highway 17 toward the Georgia-North Carolina state line, with Segars begging the dispatcher to remain on the line. “Please, they’ve got to hurry…I’ve got to make sure he gets pulled over,” Segar pleads in the dramatic audio, “Where are they at?!”

Terry Silvers

Law enforcement sketch of the incident on Bugscuffle Road, the night prior to the fatality

 

 

 

The emergency recording documents Segars pursuing Silvers into Clay County, NC. The 911 operator stated prior that Clay County Sheriff’s Office had been notified. “Are they close?” Segars asked, “He’s in other lanes, cars coming.”

Segars can be heard screaming and weeping as she witnessed the fatal accident occur near King’s Pharmacy, south of Hayesville. Silvers re-entered into the southbound lane of traffic, colliding head-on with another vehicle occupied by a grandmother and her granddaughter. The family sustained non-life threatening injuries. “Oh God, he’s dead…,” Segars is heard crying, “I tried to tell y’all to hurry!”

Segars told someone at the scene, “I’ve been on the phone with 911 since Hiawassee…Oh God, he’s dead. I’ve been on the phone since Papa’s Pizza.” A siren can be heard arriving at the scene of the accident as the tragic call ends.

According to emergency responders, Silvers died upon collision with the oncoming vehicle, the result of firewood ejecting into the cab of the Toyota pickup that he was driving. North Carolina Highway Patrol stated that Silvers did not appear to brake prior to impact, and that road conditions were not unfavorable at the time of the deadly crash. North Carolina Highway Patrol requested a toxicology screen on Silvers, and the investigation remains open. Results of the toxicology test are expected in coming weeks.

FYN contacted Towns County Sheriff’s Office, offering an opportunity to provide a response. A statement had not been received at the time of publication.

11 Comments

  1. Josh goodwin March 1, 2019 at 8:08 pm

    That is insane that multiple people reached out to our GREAT local sheriffs office. In return nothing was done and a life was lost. It could have been prevented END OF STORY. Way to go TCSO everyone knew he had a problem EVERYONE!!! Our tax payers dollars at its finest buddy let me yell ya.

  2. Terra silvers March 2, 2019 at 8:49 am

    My father Terry Silvers had to lose his life due to lack of effort of the behalf of towns county sheriff’s office … so in the means of there laziness I had to lose my father.. it just not fair. They are to protect and serve.. but instead they want to let the ones that are under influence go.. all I can say is I’m going to really miss my dad. He was a good man..respectful,and would help anyone with anything he could.he didn’t deserve this..

    • Rita Lawson May 26, 2019 at 6:50 pm

      So sorry for your loss Terra. Your dad obviously needed help that he did not get.

  3. Kate davis March 3, 2019 at 10:30 pm

    Those so called sheriff’s dept sux

  4. Bella Donna March 3, 2019 at 11:47 pm

    The sad part of this tragic event is that there are drug and alcohol treatment centers who will take anyone with or without insurance. Instead of focusing on calling the law enforcement, the focus from family and friends should have been on rehabilitating this gentleman. There are all sorts of avenues you can take to get someone with a problem into drug rehabilitation. Instead, relying on the Sheriffs department was the avenue ventured. His long time suffering is over and unfortunately, he died at the mercy of people depending on other people to help solve a family member and friends life. I could never depend on my family to make the call for drug rehab. I had to do it. They were to busy with themselves. I feel very sorry for the loss. Lawsuits won’t bring back your loved one. That is money spent and gone before you know it. It does not replace your brother, neighbor or friend. It will not raise the awareness that is needed to help drug addicted people from becoming a death statistic. Look on your dockets for court. Look at the arrest reports. People are still going to go back to what they know until their dying day or until they get rehabilitation and want more for their lives. My prayers are definitely strong onward to those who are hurting and those who are ill willed. Strong and heavy! One man’s misfortune can become someone else’s life flight.

  5. Donna Hogsed March 5, 2019 at 12:49 am

    sad, but there are so many more examples of the TCSO being “easy” on local addicts. thank goodness the grandparent and child are ok……….. this time

  6. Tennga March 5, 2019 at 11:39 am

    Yes the law should have tried harder. But it’s not the laws fault this man was on drugs. It’s a choice he made to do them. Not the law. I know people have to blame someone but blame the right one. We all have choices and need to make the right one. These people are blaming the law. the law could blame the family, the brother said this has been going on a while. Well did the family get him help, or tell the law about trying to get him help. It seams to me when pointing fingers there are more pointed at the family, not the law. The laws job it to serve and protect. Not baby set a drug addicted. I’m not being mean just saying.

  7. Angela Caldwell March 5, 2019 at 11:42 am

    I can’t image the hopelessness the caller “Heather” had during the 911 call and the trauma she is experiencing from the traumatic experience she has seen and knowing she was on a 911 call for over 10 minutes. Sad that Terry appears to have lost his life from being impaired from some kind of addiction per his brother listed above. The return call from deputy to dispatch at 11 minutes, 55 seconds.. “I just wanted to call you and say really!” In my option the deputy was VERY UNPROFESSIONAL to dispatch! The 911 call posted below. https://youtu.be/23f_zncSj5g

  8. Christine Bourgeois March 5, 2019 at 12:11 pm

    Heathers actions were heroic and I’m still shocked that the officer driving car 16 thought that searching a home Was more important than the many lives that were in immediate danger. Because of TCSO officers negligence one man is dead 2 innocent ppl were injured. Plus one very brave woman will be haunted by the tragic events that unfolded before her eyes as she pled for someone help. Something needs to be done about this and TCSO needs to be held accountable for their lack of action in this matter.

  9. Sherry March 5, 2019 at 9:28 pm

    Unbelievable is all I can say I know everyone involved and I’m just in shock to hear this call and no one but heather seemed to care I’m terrified to know my grandson and son ride on these roads and live in towns co now every time they leave I’m gonna be worried to death till I know there home safe this is just one person they could care less about there more addicts out there driving around and our children are at risk our families if not doing your job means more to you maybe it’s time to find a different profession if this would of been one of your family members involved how would you feel I dont feel safe here anymore even at home calling 911 really ain’t a option anymore its sad

  10. Linda March 7, 2019 at 9:13 pm

    The accident was a shame. I’m truly sorry for the loss of your father. And to the witness, everyone will Monday morning quarterback, but you did an exceptional deed in going out of your way in trying to prevent this. While listening to you (and the 911 operator) I could only imagine the risk and chance of on-coming traffic. I think you did everything within your means considering your circumstances. You should be commended.
    I thought the dispatcher handled the situation appropriately given the tools she had at hand, however the deputy that called in afterwards was an eye opener of just how bad things are within the sheriffs office. There is just NO EXCUSE for that kind of behavior.
    The deputy called to scold the 911 operator for putting out a BOLO. A BOLO for a driver in question that could possibly kill someone. Being on another call does not mean you’re off duty. It doesn’t mean emergencies stop, it just doesn’t work that way.
    While understanding law enforcement cannot be everywhere, holding yourself accountable, competent and concerned should be a priority. No matter what is going on.

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