Area Roads During The Holidays 

The holidays are supposed to be a time for family gatherings and enjoyment. Such enjoyment quickly comes to an end when a person suffers debilitating or fatal injuries in a car accident. For Tifton and surrounding areas in Georgia, 2020’s holiday season was not a time of happiness for 24 car accident victims who suffered fatal injuries.

As reported by www.ajc.com, a total of 24 people were killed over the Thanksgiving holiday (Wednesday through Sunday) in serious motor vehicle accidents. The Georgia State Patrol (GSP) stated that both speed and alcohol were likely contributing factors to the cause of many accidents. Additionally, weekend rain may have played a role in at least one of the accidents.

A few examples of the fatal accidents that plagued Georgia over the holidays include, among others, the following:

• A 19-year-old woman was struck and killed by a driver traveling 65 miles per hour in a 45 mile-per-hour zone;
• A 16-month-old boy was killed when his mother accidentally drove over him at home;
• A 46-year-old man was thrown from his motorcycle and killed when he locked his brakes to avoid striking a car in front of him; and
• A 43-year-old man was killed in a single-vehicle accident when his car left the road, struck a ditch, and spun into a tree.

Despite fewer travelers on the roads during the COVID-19 pandemic, deaths in Georgia during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend increased from the prior year. Tragic deaths over Thanksgiving and other holidays are often preventable if drivers take certain tips into consideration.