CLARKESVILLE, Ga. — A Clarkesville family is grieving the sudden loss of a husband, father, and grandfather after a medical emergency led to a fatal crash last week in Habersham County.
72-year-old Kenneth “Vamp” Burton of Clarkesville died Dec. 15 following a single-vehicle crash on Habersham Mills Road outside of Demorest. According to Burton’s daughter, Shana Franklin, her father suffered a medical emergency while driving.
“He had a heart attack, which caused him to crash, but [he] had already passed before he actually wrecked,” said Franklin. “Thank God, because this has truly been a terrible experience for our entire family.”
Woman who witnessed wreck tried to help
Georgia State Patrol investigators said Burton was traveling east on Habersham Mills Road in a 2002 Cadillac Escalade when he failed to maintain his lane and left the right shoulder of the roadway. The vehicle traveled down an embankment, crossed a driveway, and struck a tree. The SUV caught fire after impact.
A witness told troopers she observed the crash while traveling in the opposite direction and attempted to help, but was unable to render aid due to the fire. Burton was pronounced dead at the scene.
‘Truly missed’
Originally from Demorest, Kenneth Burton was a U.S. Army veteran who served during the Vietnam era. Outside of the service, he was a self-employed carpenter who built numerous homes for families across northeast Georgia. Franklin described her father as a kind and devoted family man.
“He was always there for my sisters and brothers,” Franklin said. “He is now and will always be truly missed by all of us.”
Franklin said the family is still in shock, especially her mother, who “is lost without him.”
“When we are at Mom’s, we keep looking for him to walk in or be sitting on the couch,” Franklin said. “We are all trying our best to be there for her.”
With Christmas approaching, Franklin said the family plans to lean on one another and honor her father by remembering the many happy moments they shared.
“This is going to be one of the hardest Christmases we have ever had,” she said, “but [we] plan on trying to celebrate all of the happy memories we have together as much as possible.”
