18 traffic fatalities reported over July 4th holiday travel period

By Jessica Waters

Traffic crashes across Georgia during the July Fourth holiday travel period resulted in 18 traffic deaths.  The 102-hour holiday period began Friday, June 30, at 6 p.m., and ended Tuesday, July 4, at 11:59 p.m. None of the fatalities occurred in Stephens or neighboring counties.

Statewide, Georgia State Patrol Troopers investigated nine fatal crashes and local agencies responded to an additional nine fatal crashes.

Seven GSP Posts reported responding to one traffic death over the holiday travel period, including Post 27 Blue Ridge, Post 32 Athens, Post 48 Atlanta, Post 2 LaGrange, Post 24 Newnan, Post 26 Thomaston, and Post 33 Milledgeville.  Post 4 Villa Rica responded to two roadway fatalities over the 102-hour period.

Traffic deaths handled by local agencies during the holiday period include two by the Atlanta Police Department, two by the DeKalb County Police Department, and two by the Dougherty County Police Department. The Glynn County Police Department, the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pike County Sheriff’s Office each responded to one traffic fatality.

In addition to fatal crashes, Troopers investigated more than 500 traffic crashes that resulted in more than 260 injuries. Troopers and Motor Carrier Compliance Division (MCCD) Officers made 20,989 traffic stops and issued more than 12,300 citations and more than 15,000 warnings.

In 2022, 21 people died and troopers investigated more than 390 wrecks statewide resulting in over 200 injuries. Troopers and Motor Carrier Compliance Division officers arrested more than 370 individuals for driving under the influence and issued over 9,000 citations and 8,400 warnings on Georgia’s roads during the Independence Day holiday travel period, which lasted 78 hours.

According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, seven traffic fatalities were reported between July 1 and July 4 this year across the state. The roadway fatality count in Georgia for the same period was 17, as one of Georgia’s holiday travel period fatalities occurred on June 30 after 6 p.m.

According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources spokesman Mark McKinnon, there were no Boating under the Influence arrests or citations handed out on Lake Hartwell during the holiday weekend which began at 12:01 a.m. on July 1 and ended at 11:59 p.m. on July 4.

Additionally, McKinnon said DNR Law Enforcement rangers on Hartwell Lake reported no boating or swimming accidents or incidents during that period.

However, it was not the same on nearby Lake Lanier where DNR officers cited and arrested 11 people for boating under the influence.

In Georgia, the law for boating under the influence is the same as for driving under the influence.