Several law enforcement agencies throughout Georgia county responded to a car accident on Highway 27 that left one person dead and one person injured. The accident occurred at approximately 7:30 p.m. on the southbound shoulder of the highway on December 26. The accident caused traffic to be stopped for two hours while officers investigated and cleared the roadway of debris.
Two vehicles, a Honda ATV and a standard sedan, were involved in the crash. One of the drivers sustained severe injuries and was taken to the hospital. The other driver was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Authorities are still investigating why the crash occurred. The Georgia State Patrol and the Early and Miller’s County agencies all responded to the wreck. Witnesses to the crash said that the highway is very dark to drive on in the evening hours and that deer are known to run across the road, which may contribute to car accidents occurring.
Car accidents occur more often during the night. Though there is 60 percent less traffic on the road during evening hours, 40 percent of all fatal accidents occur at night. Authorities believe that this is because of limited visibility, the glare from oncoming traffic and driver fatigue. Drivers need to be more vigilant during the evening hours when operating a vehicle in order to prevent accidents from occurring.
Drivers who travel during the evening hours have the legal responsibility to take care while operating the vehicle. When someone drives when they are tired, distracted or impaired, they may be responsible if an accident occurs. In this case, a lawyer may be able to prove that a driver acted negligently by driving while tired. The family of the victim may be able to receive actual and punitive damages for their loss.
Source: WTYV, “Georgia law enforcement responds to fatal wreck on Highway 27”, Zach Wilcox, 12/26/2018