BRUNSWICK, Ga. – As a 23-year-old woman's family tries to find answers in her death, 911 calls released Wednesday shed light on the harrowing moments after she was thrown from a moving truck Saturday night in Brunswick.
The Brunswick Police Department said that Megan Twist fell off the outside of the pickup truck, which was being driven down Reynolds Street by her boyfriend, Richard Wiltfang.
LISTEN: Brunswick 911 calls
Wiltfang, 25, was later arrested and charged with obstruction of law enforcement. Police said more charges could be filed based on the outcome of a criminal investigation. They said alcohol might have been a factor.
"At this time the investigation has revealed that she was on the outside of the vehicle, however, we have not been able to figure out why she was riding on the outside of that vehicle," Brunswick Police Department Capt. Angela Smith said. "We're still investigating why she was on the outside of the vehicle to begin with."
One 911 caller indicated the incident happened near Indigo Coastal Shanty restaurant in Brunswick.
911 dispatcher: “What's going on sir?”
Caller: “I have no idea. The manager, her son is on the floor, so I don't know. If y'all want to send anyone by any chance, she's freaking out. I can't walk too far because the phone is going to cut off.”
Dispatcher: “OK. We will send someone to you.”
A woman who called 911 was able to explain that a woman was in the road.
Dispatcher: “And you said there's someone in the road?”
Caller: “Yes. I think they just left, and I'm not sure exactly what happened. I know she’s outside of the car, unconscious on the ground.”
A memorial wreath marks the spot where Twist was thrown from the truck. It was put there by a Brunswick business owner who hopes surveillance video her camera recorded can help piece together exactly what happened that left Twist dying on the street.
“I hate that someone lost such a wonderful life,” Dawn Stuckey said. “I hope they can get to the bottom of how this happened; figure out what happened. How did she come from the vehicle?”
Twist was found unconscious on Reynolds Street about 7 p.m. and was taken to a hospital, then transferred to UF Health in Jacksonville, where she died Monday night.
One of Twist's three sisters said the intensive care nurses allowed Twist's dog, Mayer, to come into her room and give her some licks to say goodbye.
"She was the light of everyone's life," Jane Twist Hixson said. "From the time she was born, she was so full of life and personality and grew up to have so many friends."
Police have asked anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward and were looking for a man and woman they believe were trying to help Twist. On Tuesday, both spoke with police, who said they are hopeful it will help with the investigation.
"If it was a complete accident, we want to know that," Hixson said. "And if something more sinister took place, we want to know that, too. We just want to know what happened to our baby girl and why she's gone."
Twist's former boss at Client Focused Media said she and her staff were shocked to learn about Twist's death.
“She was such a sweet person who made an impact on all of us with her bright spirit and energy,” Meredith Tekin said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Megan’s family during this difficult time. She will be dearly missed by us all.”
Twist's organs were harvested Wednesday morning. Her family said she will be able to save the lives of five people.
Her funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Prince Avenue Baptist Church in Athens, Georgia. The church also includes Prince Avenue Christian School that Twist attended.
Her family said she will be buried in a cemetery next to Sanford Stadium, where her beloved team the Georgia Bulldogs play football.