15 Die on Georgia Roadways Over Memorial Day Weekend
Traffic fatalities on Georgia roadways over the 72-hour Memorial Day weekend rose from last year.
The Memorial Day weekend traffic count began at 6p Friday and ended at midnight Monday.
The Georgia State Patrol reports 15 people have died in traffic-related accidents this weekend up from 9 in 2014.
Of the fatalities reported eight of those were on State highways or Interstates and handled by the GSP, seven were handled by local law enforcement agencies.
One of the fatal wrecks was investigated by the Toccoa Post of the Georgia State Patrol, but none were in the Hartwell Post area.
That fatal wreck happened Monday morning in Cornelia where a vehicle hit a farm tractor head on on Pea Ridge Road.
According to troopers, the driver of the vehicle was killed, the driver of the farm tractor was ejected and was injured.
The name of the victim has not yet been released.
In the Hartwell Post area, troopers arrested a South Carolina man Sunday after he lead them on a high-speed chase.
According to Hartwell Post Assistant Commander Matt Baxley, it happened about 11:30a Sunday morning near the Exit 177 off-ramp.
“Trooper Roger Fuller was working speed enforcement on Interstate 85 northbound near mile marker 178 when he observed a Lincoln Towncar traveling above the speed limit. He attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle, but the driver failed to yield to the emergency equipment and a pursuit ensued,” Baxley said.
Baxley said the trooper chased the Lincoln into South Carolina where it eventually pulled over. Baxley said the driver now faces multiple charges.
“He (Trooper Fuller) conducted a felony traffic stop along with other troopers from Post 52/Hartwell,” he said. “The driver was arrested and charged with driving on suspended license. And along with that, a search of the vehicle uncovered marijuana.”
The driver is identified as 39-year old Richard Carson of Greenville, SC. He was taken to the Hart County Detention Center in Hartwell to await a bond hearing.