The Memorial Day weekend turned tragic on Georgia roads as at least eight people lost their lives in traffic accidents.
The Georgia Department of Public Safety shared the latest updates on Monday, revealing that troopers from multiple areas across the state had been called to investigate deadly crashes since Friday evening.
According to officials, traffic enforcement was increased statewide during the holiday weekend, but even with those efforts, several serious incidents occurred.
The first set of fatalities was confirmed by Sunday morning, with more added by the end of Monday.
One of the most serious crashes was reported in Habersham County on Sunday afternoon. A woman died in a two-vehicle accident on Highway 365 at Level Grove Road in Cornelia.
The Georgia State Patrol (GSP) says the crash involved a northbound Ford Expedition and a southbound Toyota Corolla.
The Toyota driver, who was killed in the crash, tried to turn left in front of the SUV and was struck. The driver of the SUV was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities are still investigating the crash to determine more details.
In another crash in northwest Georgia, one person died in Bartow County. GSP said that the crash happened early Sunday on I-75 and involved a single vehicle. No further information has been released about the victim or the cause of that crash.
In addition to these cases, the Georgia State Patrol also investigated fatalities in other counties, including Henry, Cobb, Hall, and Richmond.
Some of these crashes involved multiple vehicles, and some involved pedestrians. Each case is currently under investigation, and more details are expected in the coming days.
The Georgia Department of Public Safety said that its officers worked overtime across the state during the Memorial Day weekend to help manage the heavy holiday traffic.
Troopers increased DUI patrols, seatbelt enforcement, and speeding checks to reduce the number of serious accidents. Still, despite their efforts, the number of crashes and fatalities remained high.
The Memorial Day weekend is often one of the deadliest times for travel in the United States, as many families take road trips to celebrate the start of summer.
This year, the Georgia State Patrol started their traffic safety campaign on Friday at 6 p.m. and continued through Monday night. As part of this campaign, troopers across Georgia aimed to stop unsafe driving behavior like drunk driving, aggressive driving, and distracted driving.
So far, reports from the Department of Public Safety show that over 300 crashes have been reported across the state during the Memorial Day period, resulting in hundreds of injuries and at least eight confirmed deaths. These numbers are expected to rise as more reports come in and investigations continue.
Local law enforcement is urging drivers to stay alert, avoid drinking and driving, and always wear seatbelts. They say that even small decisions, like checking your speed or putting away your phone, can save lives.
As families mourn the loss of their loved ones, officers are using this moment to remind everyone that holiday weekends should be enjoyed safely. While police presence and safety measures can help, road safety ultimately depends on responsible choices made by every driver.
Investigators are still working on several of the crash scenes, and the names of some victims have not yet been released as families are being notified. The Georgia Department of Public Safety will likely release updated numbers later this week as more information is gathered.