A Savannah man seriously was injured Monday in a single-vehicle accident on North Coastal Highway.

Georgia State Patrol Senior Trooper Harry Middleton said Liberty 911 received calls around 9 p.m. regarding a man who reportedly was driving erratically in the  Lake George area in Eastern Liberty County. Middleton said David Fletcher, 55, drove into a resident’s yard. When the homeowner came out to investigate, he said he smell alcohol on Fletcher.  The homeowner tried to remove the keys from the 2006 Chevy Silverado pickup, but Fletcher drove off. The homeowner pursued him.  Middleton said Fletcher left Lake George as the homeowner called 911 and gave the operator their location. Fletcher turned right turn onto North Coastal Highway from Limerick Road heading toward Bryan County. He hit a guardrail and lost control of his vehicle, sending him into the southbound lanes. The pickup struck the concrete guardrail of a small bridge, taking out about 25 feet of the rail.

After hitting the guardrail, Fletcher’s vehicle flipped over one time, partially ejecting him. Fletcher, according to Middleton, was not wearing a seat belt. Fletcher is facing charges of failure to maintain a lane, no seat belt and driving under the influence. The estimated damage to the bridge is unknown. Fletcher was flown to Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, where he is listed in critical but stable condition. 

The road was closed for several hours and traffic was diverted while investigators inspected the scene. Units from Lake George Volunteer Fire and Rescue and the Fleming community responded to the accident.