Monday, December 16, 2013

23 Road Fatalities Already in 2013

UPDATE by RCSO: On Monday December 30th, 2013 at approximately 5:42 PM, The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Division responded to 4200 Block of Mike Padgett Hwy regarding an accident with injuries. Upon arrival, it was learned that a 66 year old male was operating a 2003 GMC Sonoma truck and had exited the private driveway of 4278 Mike Padgett Hwy attempting to turn left to travel south on Mike Padgett Hwy. 

Further investigation revealed that a 48 year old male was operating a 2004 BMW and was traveling north on the 4200 Block of Mike Padgett Hwy. Further investigation revealed that the driver of the Sonoma truck was executing his left turn and did so in the path of the BMW causing the front of the BMW to strike the left side of the GMC Sonoma truck. The driver of the truck was transported to Georgia Regents University ER for medical treatment where he later succumbed to his injuries.  The driver of the BMW was treated for non-life threatening injuries.  

On Monday December 9, 2013 at approximately 7:11 AM the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Division responded to the 3800 Block of Belair Road regarding a traffic accident. Upon deputies arrival, it was learned that Richmond County School Bus #72 was stopped facing East on the 3800 Block of Belair Road with all visual signals activated. 

A pedestrian, Jaidyn Williams (8) years old male student from Sue Reynolds Elementary was walking South across the West bound lanes of Belair Road. A vehicle (2007 Chrysler Town and Country Van) was traveling West bound on the 3800 Block of Belair Road driven by Scott William Hancock (20). This investigation revealed Hancock, the driver of the Chrysler Town and Country Van failed to stop for the school bus and the visual caution signs being displayed from the bus. 

The Chrysler van struck Jaidyn Williams. Williams was transported to GRU ER and subsequently died from injuries on Thursday December 26, 2013 as a result of this traffic accident.

AUGUSTA, GA (Special Report) - This weekend, the Richmond County Sheriff's Office in conjunction with the GSP and Governor's Office of Highway Safety conducted an Operation Thunder Follow Up on Friday 12/13 and Saturday 12/14.  Road Checks were done at various locations on Friday evening resulting in 16 DUI arrests and 29 Child Safety Seat Citations for failure to properly restrain children in vehicles.  On Saturday evening, no road checks were conducted in an effort to compare enforcement action strategies.  Concentrated enforcement patrols were deployed throughout the county for DUI and aggressive drivers resulting in 5 DUI arrests and other traffic warnings & citations.

On Saturday evening, the Traffic Division and STAR Team responded to a fatal single-car accident.  Erwin Juarez, 31, was pronounced dead at the scene by Deputy Coroner Kenneth Boose. The cause of death was blunt force trauma and alcohol was a contributing factor.  Juarez was driving a 2000 Ford Truck when it wrecked on the West-bound exit ramp of Bobby Jones Expressway.

During the 3 month Operation Thunder initiative and during all follow up weekends where road checks have been conducted in Richmond County, no fatal crashes occurred.  Additionally, many other arrests of wanted felons, weapons seizures, and drug seizures helped to reduce crime throughout the area.  Last year as of December 15th, Richmond County had 37 roadway fatalities.  This year as of December 15th, Richmond County has had 23 roadway fatalities, one of which was last month when an individual had a heart attack followed by a single car vehicle accident.

The RCSO is committed to keeping roadway fatalities and crashes as low as possible through educational and enforcement actions according to Lt. Lewis Blanchard.  The Traffic Safety Division will continue with educational efforts, media and public relations initiative's, road safety checkpoints, warnings, and enforcement action in an effort to reduce injuries and save lives in our county.

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