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

The Georgia State Patrol investigated a total of 585 traffic crashes over the long weekend.

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: You might also be interested in reading:  

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17 Killed in Holiday Weekend Accidents in Georgia

The 102-hour travel period ended at midnight on Dec. 25.

A total of 17 traffic deaths were reported in Georgia for the 102-hour holiday travel period which began Friday, Dec. 21 at at 6 p.m. and ended Tuesday, Dec. 25 at midnight, according to the Georgia State Patrol (GSP). GSP troopers investigated 685 crashes resulting in 300 injuries and 11 fatalities. Six traffic fatalities were investigated by other law enforcement agencies. The number of traffic-related deaths is much higher than in 2011 when three people were killed in accidents during the Christmas holiday travel period.  You might also be interested in reading:

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Scott

11:55 am on Thursday, December 27, 2012

It seems like there was probably 48 additional hours in the holiday this year. So, simply looking at 3 deaths in 2011 and 17 this year isn't a fare comparison. Christmas was on Sunday last year so the Monday & Tuesday time this year lead to more deaths. It would depend what a non-holiday or "normal" weekend fatality rate is to see how much the spike was for this holiday season. Add to that all …   more ›

Suspect Flees From Troopers During I-85 Traffic Stop

A North Carolina man fled on foot after being stopped near the Hamilton Mill exit. He was apprehended by troopers with the Georgia State Patrol and charged with trafficking cocaine.

A North Carolina man has been jailed and charged with trafficking cocaine after a Thursday afternoon traffic stop on I-85 northbound near Hamilton Mill Road. According to Georgia State Patrol spokesman Gordy Wright, Gabino Benitez Correa, 43, of Snow Hill, N.C., was traveling north on I-85 near exit 120 at approximately 4 p.m. when he was stopped by a trooper. The trooper asked for consent to search Correa’s red Honda. Correa agreed. During the search, the trooper found a hidden compartment containing 10 kilos of suspected cocaine. Correa fled the scene on foot while the search was taking place, but was apprehended by other troopers. Wright said Correa was transported to the Gwinnett County Jail and has been charged with trafficking …

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Around the Region

Around the Region: Train Accident Kills Elderly Man, Court Date Set for Accused Child Molester and Pot Grower Denied Bond

A look at top Patch stories from around Georgia.

Elderly Man Killed Trying To Beat Train – Cartersville Patch One person was killed in a train-car crash on Cass-White Road near U.S. 411 in Cartersville Wednesday morning. Georgia State Patrol spokesman Gordy Wright said Edward Ellis Brumfield Jr., 80, of Cartersville was killed when he drove around the stop arm and was hit in the driver's door by the train. Wright said no one else was hurt in the incident.   Court Date Set for Canton Man Accused of Child Molestation, Rape – Canton-Sixes Patch A hearing for a married Canton man accused of molesting his girlfriend's 10-year-old daughter has been set. Joshua Daniels, 29, will appear before Colquitt County Magistrate Court Judge J.J. McMillan at 9 a.m. on Jan. 10. Three weeks ago Cherokee …

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Funeral for Mill Creek Student to Be Held Friday

MCHS freshman was killed in a car accident over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

UPDATED at 2 p.m. on Nov. 29 Funeral services for a Mill Creek High School student killed in a Nov. 26 car accident will be held Friday. Zachary Holman, 16, and his sister Madison Holman, 11, were passengers in a truck being driven by Ralph Edward Whitmire Jr., 40, of Lawrenceville. According to Georgia State Patrol spokesman Gordy Wright, Whitmire was traveling westbound on Bethany-Bowersville Road in Hart County at approximately 6:45 p.m. on Saturday when the vehicle left the roadway, hit a ditch and overturned. The vehicle came to rest upside down and all three occupants were ejected. Holman died at the scene. Whitmire was taken to AnMed Medical Center in Anderson, S.C. where he was treated and released according to a hospital …

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Mill Creek Student Killed in Weekend Car Accident

Driver facing multiple charges.

UPDATED Nov. 29 at 2 p.m. A Gwinnett County man is facing multiple charges in connection with a Nov. 26 accident that killed a Mill Creek High School student. Georgia State Patrol spokesman Gordy Wright said Zachary Morgan Holman, 16, and his sister Madison Holman, 11, were passengers in a 1998 Ford pickup truck being driven by Ralph Edward Whitmire Jr., 40, of Lawrenceville. According to Wright, Whitmire was traveling westbound on Bethany-Bowersville Road in Hart County at approximately 6:45 p.m. on Saturday when the vehicle left the roadway, hit a ditch and overturned. The vehicle came to rest upside down and all three occupants were ejected. Holman died at the scene. Whitmire was taken to AnMed Medical Center in Anderson, S.C. where he …

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Fewer Traffic Fatalities Reported Over Labor Day Weekend

Six traffic fatalities reported on Georgia roads compared to 14 for the same period last year.

UPDATED: 4:36 P.M. Despite wet roads on the last day of the Labor Day weekend, the Georgia Department of Public Safety reported a significant drop in traffic fatalities on Georgia Roads over the 78-hour travel weekend. For reporting purposes, the Labor Day travel weekend is from 6 p.m. Friday to midnight Monday. According to the Georgia Department of Public Safety website, there were six* fatalities reported statewide during this period. Georgia State Patrol reported 435 crashes with 225 injuries. Last year the GSP reported 360 crashes with 211 injuries and 13 fatalities. Statewide in 2010, with all agencies reporting, there were 14 fatalities, 2,580 crashes and 1,042 injuries reported. *GSP had previously reported seven fatalities, but …

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Troopers Expecting Heavy Holiday Traffic

Georgia State troopers will be patrolling interstates and secondary roads over the Labor Day weekend.

The Georgia State Patrol (GSP) is gearing up for a busy Labor Day holiday travel period. According to Georgia Department of Public Safety Commissioner Col. Mark McDonough, Georgia State Troopers and Motor Carrier Compliance Division Officers will be patrolling the interstates and secondary roadways throughout the weekend.   "Past experience has shown the majority of the fatalities over a holiday weekend occur on the state routes, county roads, and city streets," McDonough said in a released statement. Enforcement actions will be targeted at impaired drivers, speeders, people not wearing seat belts, and people who do not properly restrain children. "Alcohol, speed, and occupant protection violations are the primary contributing factors in …

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Traffic Accidents Claim 19 Lives Over Holiday Weekend

Georgia State Patrol investigated more than 300 crashes. GCPD handled more than 100 accident investigations.

A total of 19 people lost their lives in accidents over the 4th of July holiday weekend. From 6 p.m. on Friday, July 1 through midnight on July 4, the Georgia State Patrol responded to 313 accidents involving 230 injuries and 14 deaths. Another five fatalities were reported by other law enforcement agencies. The 19 fatalities exceeded last year’s total of 11 traffic deaths during the holiday period. Most of this year’s fatalities occurred in the Gainesville and Cumming area where seven traffic related deaths were reported. In Gwinnett, police investigated 108 accidents. Gwinnett County Police Department public information officer Cpl. Ed Ritter said the department also made 25 DUI arrests over the holiday weekend.

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GSP Gearing Up for Holiday Weekend

Troopers will be watching for impaired drivers, speeders and other violators.

The Georgia State Patrol has one primary goal this 4th of July weekend -- to keep the accident count as low as possible. Last year, more than 1,800 accidents occurred over the Independence Day holiday weekend. Those accidents resulted in 834 injuries and 11 fatalities. Col. Bill Hitchens, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety, said troopers will be watching for drivers under the influence, speeders and motorists not using seat belts. “Our Troopers and MCCD Officers will be concentrating on the most common violations identified as contributing factors in fatal traffic crashes," Hitchens said in a released statement. Operation Zero Tolerance is also continuing across Georgia this weekend. The focus of the program is to …

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