COVINGTON, Ga. — A Morgan County man was killed Thursday night when the compact car he was driving was struck head-on by a tractor-trailer on Georgia Hwy. 11 in east Newton County.

The victim, identified as Darrell Stowe, 52, of Fifth Street in Madison, was driving a 2006 Ford Focus northbound on Hwy. 11 near Adams Circle about 3:30 p.m. when it attempted to illegally pass a flatbed truck in front of it on a solid yellow center line, a Newton County Sheriff's Office report stated. 

A witness told investigators he saw the Focus trailing behind the flatbed truck when it “shot out from behind the truck to pass.” 

At that point, the Focus entered the path of a southbound 2020 International tractor-trailer owned by JB Hunt, the report stated.

The tractor-trailer had a gross vehicle weight rating of 80,000 pounds. Its driver, Anrekai White of Covington, attempted to swerve the vehicle to his right. However, it made contact with the Focus, left the roadway and came to rest against some trees, according to the report. 

Investigators found the driver of the Focus trapped inside the vehicle and dead at the scene. The report stated the Focus rolled over on its passenger side and traveled 92 feet off the roadway when it came to a rest.

The tractor-trailer driver was not injured.The incident led deputies to close the highway for hours to investigate the wreck.

This is a developing story. Watch covnews.com for updates.