Crashes on Georgia roads killed 20 over the Christmas holiday weekend, more than doubling last year’s total, according to the Georgia Department of Public Safety.
Now, the state’s law enforcement agencies are gearing up for the New Year’s holiday weekend, a time when impaired drivers are a major concern. Experts believe the coronavirus pandemic has decreased the number of travelers on the roads. Still, dozens of wrecks kept investigators busy during the recent holiday.
“This year has been one for the record books,” said Col. Chris C. Wright, commissioner of the Georgia DPS. “However, it is still the primary focus and commitment of state troopers and officers to focus on motorists who break state traffic laws and exercise bad driving habits that could potentially cause serious injuries or fatal crashes.”
Christmas landed on a Friday this year, giving many a four-day weekend. In 2019, Christmas fell on a Wednesday, shortening the holiday break. During the 54-hour long Christmas holiday period in 2019, nine people were killed in crashes and 149 were injured, according to the DPS.
This year, the Christmas holiday travel period was 78 hours long, beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday and running until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, the DPS said. The New Year’s travel period will also be 78 hours.
Fatal crashes were reported around Georgia during the Christmas holiday, including in Gwinnett, DeKalb, Clayton, Fayette, Fulton, Cobb and Spalding counties.
On Christmas morning around 8 a.m., a 33-year-old Snellville man was killed in a single-vehicle crash, according to Gwinnett County police. Edgardo Serrano was driving a 2005 Infiniti SUV eastbound on Williams Road near Norcross when he left the roadway, causing the vehicle to roll and hit a tree, a crash report states. Investigators believe alcohol and speed may have been factors in the wreck.
In Cobb County, a pedestrian was killed early Saturday on Mableton Parkway, according to police. Elanden Park, 31, of Mableton, was trying to cross Mableton Parkway outside of a marked crosswalk when he entered the path of a gray 2003 Lincoln Aviator that was heading south, investigators said.
Statewide, Georgia troopers investigated 251 traffic crashes. Troopers and DPS officers also arrested 173 people for driving under the influence and issued 7,259 citations.
This year’s New Year’s travel period will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday and run through Sunday night.
The motor club AAA predicted a 29% decrease in holiday travel between Dec. 23, and Jan. 3 due to public health concerns.
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