Young Driver Charged in Motorcycle Fatality

UPDATE: 5-22-12, 3 p.m. (Mr. Padgett's visitation and funeral)

A 50-year-old Forsyth County employee was killed in a head-on collision Monday afternoon in northwest Forsyth County while riding his motorcycle home from work.

Cpl. David Garrison of the  said John Lester Padgett, of Orchard Road in Jasper, Ga., was traveling on his 1984 Honda VF1100 on Old Federal Road around 3:49 p.m.

He was struck head-on by Kaley Ashton Quarles, 18, of Kesler Court in Cumming, who was driving a 2008 Mazda over a hill in a curve on the wrong side of the road.

Padgett was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Cpl. Garrison.

Quarles has been charged with vehicular homicide in the second degree and driving on the wrong side of the road. She was treated at the scene for superficial injuries and transported to the . She was later released on a $2,805 bond and is scheduled to appear in State Court on Aug. 3.

Capt. Tim House said more people will be out on the county roads with the approach of the long Memorial Day weekend and that all drivers, especially young drivers, need to be careful.

"They need to be very cognizant of their surroundings, they need to take their time," House said. "They need to be extra vigilant in looking at what's going on around them."

"There will be a lot more people on the lake this weekend, a lot of people coming into the county, the weather is going to be pretty, so we expect they'll be crowds on the lake and these kids are excited about their freedom, their driving, school's almost out – they just need to be very, very careful."

Padgett, a 21-year county employee, was the manager of Fleet Services.

The collision occurred just north of the intersection of Blanton Lane and Old Federal Road and remains under investigation.     

In an e-mail, the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office has released Mr. Padgett's funeral arrangements.

Visitation will take place at the following locations:

Wednesday, May 23 at Cagle Funeral Home located at 364 E. Church Street in Jasper, Ga. from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Thursday, May 24 at  located at 150 Sawnee Drive in Cumming from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Funeral will take place at the following location:

Friday, May 25 at Cagle Funeral Home Chapel located at 364 E. Church Street in Jasper, Ga. at 2 p.m.