Tragedy strikes Truitt family again

ALBANY — Four years after losing one son, longtime Albany football coach Charles Truitt and his family are mourning another heartbreaking loss.

Brenton Truitt, a Monroe High School graduate, former Albany YMCA employee and the son of the longtime southwest Georgia coach, was killed Monday night in a three-vehicle crash in rural Terrell County. He was 29.

The tragedy comes just four years after Truitt’s older brother, Brandon, died following a brief illness in 2022.

Brenton Truitt grew up around football fields throughout southwest Georgia as his father coached at Monroe High School, Americus-Sumter, Tiftarea Academy and, most recently, Randolph-Clay High School. A 2015 Monroe graduate, Truitt later earned his degree from Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, where he became a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

He also worked at the Albany-area YMCA, where he was known by many families and children who participated in youth programs.

According to the Georgia State Patrol, the crash occurred Monday night on Georgia Highway 50/U.S. Highway 82 near the Randolph County line.

Troopers said Truitt was driving eastbound when his vehicle crossed the center line into the westbound lanes and collided with a second vehicle. That vehicle left the roadway and came to rest in a ditch before Truitt’s vehicle struck a third vehicle that was moving onto the north shoulder.

Authorities said Truitt was partially ejected from his vehicle and died at the scene.

The driver of the second vehicle was flown to a hospital for treatment. The Georgia State Patrol continues to investigate the crash.

News of Truitt’s death spread quickly through Albany and southwest Georgia this week as former classmates, teammates, coaches and friends shared memories and offered prayers for the Truitt family on social media.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.