Driver killed early Friday at intersection of Gillionville Road and Mud Creek Road
Jennifer Parks
ALBANY — Officials were attempting Friday to contact next of kin of a driver who was killed earlier Friday morning in an accident near the intersection of Gillionville Road and Mud Creek Road.
The Dougherty County Police Department initially responded to the scene around 3:20 a.m. Friday before the investigation was turned over to the Georgia State Patrol.
Trooper 1st Class C.S. Jewell, with GSP Post 40 in Albany, said the driver of a silver Nissan Altima was traveling at a “very high” rate of speed before losing control, overcorrecting, hitting a tree and being ejected from the vehicle through the back windshield.
Several minutes later, the driver was still lying in the street when he was struck by a black Chevrolet Impala. The driver of the Impala is not expected to face any charges associated with the accident, Jewell said.
The driver of the Altima was not wearing a seatbelt, and it is not clear at this point exactly how fast he was driving. There were drugs at the scene, but it is not immediately certain to what degree drugs were a factor in the crash. A blood sample was taken from the deceased, Jewell said.
Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler said Friday that officials were initially having difficulty tracking down next of kin because of disconnected phone numbers. Until proper notification has been made, authorities are withholding the name of the deceased.
The crash remains under investigation.
Related Articles
Small actions can help save big on utility bills
The high temperatures of July and August can bring scorching utility bills as air conditioners hum to keep houses cool. Albany Utilities Residential Conservation Auditor Willie Jackson offered some tips on making summer cooling bills more manageable.
Bigger budget will mean improvements at Dougherty County’s landfill
“It’s certainly an opportunity where we can grow and make this very beneficial for years to the community. It’s a service that we provide for the community and I want to prolong that resource for the community. It’s not just fill it up and close it.”
Putting on the Ritz: The rise, fall and renewal of Albany’s Harlem District
On July 7, the Albany City Commission unanimously approved final construction drawings for a comprehensive restoration of the Ritz Theatre and Cultural Center, clearing the way for the project to move into competitive bidding after years of planning and preservation efforts. The decision marks the latest chapter in a decades-long effort to preserve one of Southwest Georgia’s most significant African American landmarks.
