MOULTRIE — A Colquitt County volunteer firefighter was killed in a two-vehicle accident Saturday night.

Joe Harry Ball, 34, of Norman Park, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident on Highway 319 North near the Sumner Road intersection. Four others were injured in the accident, but their names were not available.

The Georgia State Patrol (GSP) said Ball was driving a Ford Contour south on Highway 319 about 7:40 p.m. Saturday when he lost control and went into the northbound lane. The Contour went into the path of a Cadillac Escalade, driven by Alan Stone, 44, of Moultrie.

The Escalade collided with the Contour’s passenger side with its front end, the GSP said. Ball, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene. County Coroner Verlyn Brock said he died of generalized trauma to the head and neck.

According to his obituary, Ball was a member of the Northside Volunteer Fire Department, the department called to the scene. The Colquitt County Volunteer Fire Association said he was working on his Fire Fighter 1 certification at Moultrie Technical College. He is survived by his wife and two children.

A full report from the GSP on the collision is expected within the next few days. Ball is the first person killed on Colquitt County roadways in 2009 after seven people were killed in 2008.

See page 2A for full obituary information.