Six Killed in Traffic Accidents Over New Year's Holiday Period

Six people were killed and 266 injured in traffic accidents over the New Year's holiday travel period according to the Georgia State Patrol (GSP).

During the 102-hour period, which began on Friday, Dec. 28 at 6 p.m. and ended Tuesday, Jan. 1 at midnight, the GSP responded to a total of 585 traffic crashes.

Three of the six fatal accidents were investigated by GSP posts in Athens, Madison and Valdosta. Cobb County Police, Perry Police, and Macon Police also investigated accidents involving fatalities.

Early numbers indicate state troopers arrested 321 people for driving under the influence during the holiday period.

The fatal accidents investigated by GSP over the holiday weekend included:

• Jan. 1 at 1:10 a.m. - Desmond Leroy Hall, 30, of Siloam, was killed in Greene County as he walked in the travel lane of Georgia Highway 77. The driver of the vehicle that struck Hall was charged with DUI. 
• Dec. 31 at 11:50 a.m. - Brian Allan Churchill, 29, of Jefferson, was killed in Jackson County after losing control of his BMW on Benton Road. According to the Georgia State Patrol, the BMW left the roadway, struck a fence, overturned and struck a utility pole and tree before coming to rest. Alcohol is not believed to have been a factor in the wreck. 
• Dec. 30 - Jake Dale Daughtrey, 22, of Adel, was killed and three others injured as a result of a Sunday night crash on I-75 in Lowndes County. Daughtrey reportedly lost control of his vehicle, ran off the roadway, overcorrected and re-entered the travel lane before his vehicle overturned. Daughtrey was not wearing a seatbelt and was thrown from the vehicle into oncoming traffic. Alcohol is not believed to have been a factor in the crash. 

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