Crashes killed 15 people on Georgia roads over the Memorial Day weekend, a slight decrease from 2019, the Georgia State Patrol said Tuesday.
“While I’m pleased that the crashes were down, there are still a lot of crashes that occurred,” Lt. Stephanie Stallings with the GSP said. “It’s still way too many people losing their lives on the roadways. Our goal is zero deaths.”
Due to social distancing requirements, state officials had anticipated a holiday weekend “like no other.” Deadly crashes did decrease, but drivers still hit the roads, many taking advantage of the spring weather to venture out, Stallings said.
In 2019, 17 were killed over the Memorial Day weekend, up from eight in 2018, the State patrol reported.
This year, fatal crashes were again reported in metro Atlanta and throughout the state. In addition to crashes investigated by troopers, police agencies in Atlanta, Cobb County, Forest Park and Gwinnett County also reported fatal wrecks.
Troopers investigated 317 traffic crashes — down from 396 in 2019 — that resulted in 188 injuries, the State patrol said Tuesday. Troopers also arrested 317 people accused of driving under the influence. An additional 9,536 citations and 9,714 warnings were issued. There was one social distancing violation issued in metro Atlanta.
On Saturday at 4:30 a.m., a 23-year-old man was struck by an SUV when he ran into a road near Buford, according to Gwinnett police. Young Woo Kim, 23, died from his injuries Sunday. Officers will determine if the pedestrian was under the influence, police said Tuesday.
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Several of the fatal crashes involved motorcycles, but it was other drivers believed to be at fault, according to investigators.
Around 4:25 p.m. Saturday, a North Carolina man and his wife were killed in a five-vehicle crash in Mountain City, in northeast Georgia. Investigators believe Tristan Bartlett, 22, of Rabun Gap, failed to maintain his lane and crossed the center line.
Bartlett struck a Chevrolet Silverado and Harley-Davidson motorcycle, causing the driver of a Kia Sorento to also hit the motorcycle, a GSP report states. Bartlett also struck a Chevrolet pickup. His injuries were not believed to be serious.
But the husband and wife on the motorcycle, Doug and Dawn Head, both died. Doug Head, 46, was a deputy with the Macon County Sheriff's Office in North Carolina, according to Sheriff Robert Holland. Dawn Head was 50.
“To their children, please know we are here for you all and prepared to do whatever is needed of us,” Holland posted on Facebook. “Your mother and your father loved you deeply and both were extremely proud of all of you.”
Bartlett was arrested and charged with two counts of second-degree vehicular homicide, failure to maintain lane and failure to exercise care, Rabun County jail records show. He was later released on a $13,000 bond.
Later Saturday, investigators believe a distracted driver caused a crash that killed a 36-year-old woman in west Georgia around 6:40 p.m.
Brittany Keeton, 32, of Bremen, told troopers she was looking at her daughter in the backseat and did not see a stopped motorcycle in front of her attempting to turn, according to the State patrol. The crash happened on Ga. 166 at the intersection with Kuglar Road, near Bowdon.
Bobby Thomas, 44, of Carrollton, and Heather Turner of Bowdon were ejected from the Suzuki Hayabusa motorcycle, the GSP said. Turner died from her injuries. Charges were pending against Keeton, investigators said Tuesday.
On Saturday evening, two people were killed when their motorcycle was hit from behind in Paulding County, near the Carroll County line, according to the GSP.
Investigators believe Allynda Jackson was southbound on Ga. 101 when she hit the motorcycle, sending it into the path of a northbound vehicle. Patrick McCloud, 32, of Temple, and Danielle Carteaux, 31, of Dallas, both died in the crash. The two were on a 1996 Harley-Davidson.
Late Sunday, a 33-year-old man was killed when he lost control of his motorcycle on Decatur Street near Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, Atlanta police said. Julius Black was killed in the crash.
The 78-hour holiday period began Friday at 6 p.m. and ended Monday at 11:59 p.m.
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