At least 18 people were killed on Georgia roads over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, according to the Georgia Department of Public Safety.
That’s down from 20 killed during the same time period last year, despite an increase in travelers hitting the road.
More than 1.6 million Georgians were expected to travel more than 50 miles during the week of Thanksgiving, up 14,000 from last year, according to the AAA auto club.
Several deadly wrecks were reported in metro Atlanta, including a Thanksgiving Day crash that killed a father and daughter in Cherokee County.
The Mynes family was traveling in an SUV when they were hit by a pickup truck, according to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. Alivia Mynes, 18, and her father, 52-year-old Chris Mynes, died in the crash. Her mother and teenage sister survived with minor injuries. A volleyball standout, Alivia Mynes had just completed her first year playing for Bryan College and was home in Canton for the holiday weekend.
In a separate incident, a 5-year-old Atlanta girl was among three people killed in an early-morning, wrong-way crash on Thanksgiving Day in Macon, investigators said.
The driver of an SUV going the wrong way on I-75 struck an oncoming car in northern Bibb County, The Telegraph newspaper in Macon reported. Bibb Coroner Leon Jones said the driver of a 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe was going north in the interstate’s southbound lanes when he crashed into a 2018 Toyota Camry carrying a family bound for Florida.
Later Thursday, a man attempting to cross a busy northwest Atlanta street was struck and killed by a driver who didn’t stop, according to police.
Around 9:45 p.m., Atlanta officers were called to 2517 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway on a report that someone had been hit. The pedestrian was taken to the hospital, where he died from his injuries, Atlanta police said.
On Saturday night, a bicyclist was killed while on Cobb Parkway in Acworth, according to police.
Joseph D. Gentry, 45, of Acworth was riding a bicycle in the right southbound lane of Cobb Parkway, north of North Shores Road, when he was struck from behind, according to investigators.
A blue Honda Pilot, traveling southbound struck the rear of the bicycle, knocking Gentry into the roadway. He died at the scene, police said. The driver of the Honda was not injured. Cobb officers are assisting the Acworth Police Department with the investigation.
Shortly before 7:30 a.m. Sunday, Cobb County police were called to a deadly crash scene on Due West Road at Lanesborough Drive.
Investigators believe Amarjeet S. Ranhotra was driving a silver 2002 Honda Odyssey eastbound on Due West Road when he lost control of the vehicle. The Honda crossed into the westbound lane and into the path of a 2012 Ford F-250, police said. Ranhotra, 23, of Acworth died at the scene.
The driver of the Ford was transported by ambulance to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, but her injuries were not life-threatening.
In metro Atlanta, DeKalb, Fulton and Henry county police agencies also investigated deadly crashes, according to the DPS.
Troopers around the state investigated crashes, including those from posts in Thomasville and Milledgeville. The Dougherty and Grady county sheriff’s offices also investigated fatal crashes, along with police in Floyd County and Columbus.
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