Car crashes killed 19 people during the three-day Labor Day weekend, more than doubling the number of deaths during the 2019 holiday, the Georgia State Patrol said Tuesday.
Law enforcement leaders had prepared to be busy on the final long weekend of summer. And the sunny forecast — plus a pandemic that has kept many people close to home for months — led lots of folks to venture out to lakes and beaches. That meant an increase in deaths, even compared to the Memorial Day and Fourth of July holiday weekends, according to the State Patrol.
The 19 deaths over the Labor Day break were reported between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Monday, the State Patrol said. In 2019, nine people died in crashes over Labor Day weekend in Georgia.
Troopers investigated 331 traffic crashes that resulted in 176 injuries and 13 deaths, while law enforcement agencies throughout Georgia investigated the additional fatal crashes. Troopers and motor carrier officers wrote 8,854 citations; 10,112 warnings; and arrested 309 motorists for driving under the influence, the State Patrol said. Some 4,601 drivers were cited for speeding, and 541 were cited for distracted driving violations, while 1,077 offenders were given citations for seat belt violations, and 169 for child restraint violations.
Pedestrians and travelers on two wheels were among those killed in weekend crashes, according to police agencies.
Just as the long weekend was beginning, a bicyclist was killed in a collision with a vehicle in Crawford County around 6:25 p.m. Friday, The Macon Telegraph reported. Brandon Lawrence Taylor of Peach County died at the scene, according to the report. The vehicle’s driver was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Labor Day Weekend Holiday Traffic Count stands at 18 as of 6pm. Buckle Up. #gsp #gamccd #gacpd
— Georgia Department of Public Safety (@ga_dps) September 7, 2020
Saturday afternoon, a 60-year-old man on a motorcycle ran a red light and collided with a Kia Sorento near the Cobb-Bartow county line, according to Cobb County police.
Phillip Cooper of Waco was traveling northbound on U.S. 41 on a Harley-Davidson Sport Glide when he crashed at the intersection with Awtrey Church Road, north of Acworth, Officer Shenise McDonald said Tuesday.
“The Harley-Davidson entered the intersection against the red signal and collided with the right side of the Kia Sorento,” McDonald said in an emailed statement. “The Kia Sorento was redirected and came to final uncontrolled rest in the intersection facing northeast as the Harley-Davidson was redirected east and came to final uncontrolled rest on its left side.”
Cooper died at the scene. The driver of the Kia Sorento, 63-year-old Joseph Wilson of Acworth, was not injured, according to police.
A 45-year-old man was trying to cross Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway NW shortly before 11 p.m. Saturday when he was hit by a vehicle, according to Atlanta police. Eddie Reed died at the scene of the crash, which remains under investigation.
“The driver of the vehicle did remain at the scene of the accident and is cooperating with the investigation,” Atlanta police said Tuesday in an emailed statement. “At this time, it appears that the pedestrian was crossing Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway outside of a crosswalk when he was struck. No charges have been filed at this time.”
Late Sunday, a 54-year-old Athens woman was struck and killed as she tried to walk across Commerce Road, according to the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. Investigators believe Donna McCune was struck by two vehicles shortly before 9 p.m. McCune died at the scene of the crash, which remains under investigation.
“We urge all citizens to use caution when crossing the roadway, and especially during hours of darkness or when there is no crosswalk present,” Traffic Unit Commander Lt. Jon McIlvaine said in an emailed statement.
The College Park, Suwanee and Floyd County police departments also investigated deadly crashes, according to the State Patrol. State troopers from the various posts around Georgia also investigated fatal crashes, including Jasper, Villa Rica, Manchester, Thomaston, Madison, Monroe, Washington and Reidsville.
Crashes on Georgia roads killed 13 people over the three-day Fourth of July weekend this year, a 50% drop from 26 killed during that holiday stretch in 2019, when Independence Day fell on a Thursday and people had a longer break, according to the State Patrol. Over this year’s Memorial Day weekend, crashes killed 15 people on Georgia roads, down slightly from the previous year.
Georgia waters also claimed at least two lives at opposite ends of the state, according to reports.
On Saturday, a 24-year-old man drowned after jumping out of a tree into the Kinchafoonee Creek in Lee County, about 7 miles north of Albany, according to WALB News 10. On Sunday, a 34-year-old man drowned in Lake Allatoona in Bartow County, Channel 2 Action News reported. Firefighters and Georgia Department of Natural Resources rangers located the man’s body in the Flamingo Cove area of the lake.
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