A 37-year-old man faces murder and vehicular homicide charges after the April 23 crash.
SAVANNAH, Ga. — A Savannah Lyft driver and his teen passenger were killed April 23 when a Chevrolet Trailblazer fleeing a traffic stop ran a red light and struck their Nissan Juke at Pennsylvania Avenue and Capital Street, authorities said.
The crash turned a late-night traffic stop into a double-fatality case now being investigated by the Georgia State Patrol. Authorities identified the driver accused of fleeing as Quadramel Trellion Williams, 37. The victims were identified by loved ones as Lyft driver Habibullah Azizi and 19-year-old passenger Trejon Anthony, who family members said was heading home from work.
Georgia State Patrol said Chatham County sheriff’s deputies tried to stop a black Chevrolet Trailblazer at about 9:54 p.m. The driver did not stop and accelerated west on Capital Street, beginning a pursuit. Investigators said the Trailblazer entered the intersection at Pennsylvania Avenue against a red light and hit the driver’s side of the Nissan Juke. The impact ejected both people in the Nissan. Azizi and Anthony were pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities said the driver and two passengers from the Trailblazer were later found and placed in handcuffs.
Williams was booked in Chatham County on two murder counts, two counts of first-degree homicide by vehicle, DUI, fleeing or attempting to elude police, reckless driving, driving with a suspended or revoked license, obstruction and other traffic-related counts. Records also listed accusations tied to concealing a license plate, improperly tinted windows or materials reducing light, failure to wear a seat belt, disregarding a traffic control device and terroristic threats and acts. Williams has not been convicted, and the charges are allegations as the case moves through court.
A second man, James Ramon Brannen, 55, also was taken into custody after the crash. Authorities said Brannen was being held for extradition to the Oldham County Sheriff’s Office in Kentucky. The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office said the case also involves additional warrants and drug and weapon-related offenses. Officials have not released a full account of what led deputies to try to stop the Trailblazer, and court information for Williams was not immediately available in early reports.
Azizi’s friends described him as an Afghan immigrant who had moved to the United States a few years earlier and worked to support family overseas. Ejaz Ahmadi, a friend of Azizi, said the loss was especially painful because Azizi had been trying to build a safer life and help relatives in Afghanistan. “He was the only breadwinner for his family,” Ahmadi said. He said Azizi’s mother grew worried when she could not reach him late that night, and friends began searching before learning from police that there had been a crash.
Anthony’s family said he was from Chicago and was 19 when he died. Relatives said he was simply on his way home from work when the police pursuit crossed the path of the Lyft ride. In a family statement, loved ones called him “an innocent victim, taken far too soon.” The crash left two families trying to bring the men home while investigators worked through the timeline of the pursuit, the collision and the arrests that followed.
The crash also brought renewed attention to pursuit rules. A local report said the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office policy allows deputies to begin a high-speed chase only when a suspect is fleeing from an alleged felony or would place the public in danger if not caught. The sheriff’s office said the Georgia State Patrol is investigating the crash and that the sheriff’s office is conducting an internal review. In a statement, the agency said the matter remains active and ongoing, so no additional comments could be provided.
Georgia State Patrol’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team from Troop F responded to assist with the investigation. Authorities have not said when the next court hearing for Williams will be held. As of Tuesday, April 28, the criminal case remained pending and the crash investigation was still active.
Author note: Last updated April 28, 2026.