Georgia State Patrol: Six Killed in Traffic Crashes During New Year's Travel Period

Six people were killed in traffic crashes in Georgia over the 102-hour new year's holiday travel period, which began Friday and ended Tuesday.

Fatal traffic crashes were reported by Georgia State Patrol posts in Athens, Madison and Valdosta, as well as Cobb County police, Perry police and Macon police.

The Georgia State Patrol investigated 585 traffic crashes during the holiday period with 266 injuries reported. Early activity reports show state troopers arrested 321 people for driving under the influence.

Last year, during a 78-hour holiday period, state troopers investigated 296 crashes that resulted in 172 injuries. Troopers investigated seven of the 13 fatal crashes reported statewide and arrested 262 people for impaired driving. 

The fatal crashes investigated by the Georgia State Patrol during the 2012-13 new year's travel period included the following incidents:

• At 1:10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013, in Greene County — Desmond Leroy Hall, 30, from Siloam was killed when he was struck by a vehicle as he walked with the flow of traffic in the travel lane of Ga. Highway 77. According to the Georgia State Patrol, alcohol is suspected as a contributing factor. The driver of the vehicle that struck Hall was charged with driving under the influence.
• About 11: 50 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31, 2012m in Jackson County — Brian Allan Churchill, 29, of Jefferson was killed when he lost control of his vehicle on Benton Road. The BMW left the roadway, struck a fence, overturned and struck a utility pole and tree before coming to rest. Alcohol is not suspected as a contributing factor. A passenger in the vehicle was transported to Athens Regional for treatment.
• Sunday, Jan. 30, 2012, in Lowndes County — One person was killed and three others were injured in a one-vehicle crash on Interstate 75. Jake Dale Daughtrey, 22, of Adel was killed after he lost control of his vehicle, ran off the roadway, overcorrected, re-entered the travel lane and began overturning. Daughtrey was thrown from the vehicle and into oncoming traffic in the southbound lanes. Alcohol is not suspected in the crash and a seatbelt was not in use.

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