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James Ellis Wilbanks, Jr.

Age : 82

Gender : Unknown

Race : White

Date : 01/12/2026

Location : US Hwy 1 & Five Points Rd

City : Vidalia

County : Toombs

State : Georgia

Agency : Toombs County Sheriff’s Office

Officer(s) :Jamiya Perry

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Bystander killed by police vehicle crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 01/12/2026, a Toombs County Sheriff’s Office deputy was driving a marked sheriff’s truck northbound on US Highway 1 near the intersection with Five Points Road in Vidalia when the deputy’s vehicle struck a blue van that was turning onto the highway. The driver of the van, 82-year-old James Ellis Wilbanks, Jr., was entrapped and suffered fatal injuries. Wilbanks was pronounced dead at the scene before first responders arrived. Preliminary evidence indicates Wilbanks failed to yield to the oncoming sheriff’s vehicle, resulting in the impact. The Georgia State Patrol Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team assumed the investigation and the official disposition of the case is pending. Officers on scene reported no injury to Deputy Perry.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.wtoc.com/2026/01/15/vidalia-man-killed-crash-with-deputy-dangerous-intersection/
https://wgxa.tv/news/local/vidalia-man-dies-in-car-crash-with-toombs-county-sheriffs-truck-investigation-underway-jamiya-perry-s-82-year-old-james-wilbanks-dies-in-car-accident-us-highway-1-five-points-road-gsp-investigates