Two fatalities in Newton Road crash

ALBANY — Two people were killed in an auto accident on the 7800 block of Newton Road around 5:48 p.m. Thursday evening, Dougherty County Police Department officials said.

Carrie Pritchard, 33, and three passengers were traveling north on Newton Road in a Ford Mustang when the car exited the roadway onto the east shoulder, over-corrected and traveled across the northbound lane into the southbound lane. The Mustang struck a Honda CRV driven by 42 year-old Walter Lee Wright Jr. that was traveling south.

“The three passengers in the Ford Mustang were juveniles,” said Capt. Jason Hager of the Dougherty County Police Department. “Apparently, none of them were wearing seat belts and one of them, a 14-year-old male, was ejected from the car and pronounced dead on the scene. The driver of the CRV was transported to Phoebe (Putney Memorial Hospital) and later pronounced dead. It was not a head-on collision; the Mustang actually crossed the northbound lane at a 90 degree angle and T-boned the CRV.

“There was a witness that saw the accident in his rearview mirror and turned around to help. But by the time he turned around and got back to the scene, both vehicles were on fire. The occupants of the Mustang had managed to get out of the vehicle, but the witness had to pull the driver out of the CRV and did so just before the car became completely engulfed in flames. All of them were taken to the hospital for treatment.”

According to Dougherty County Deputy Coroner Terrance Bryant, the families of the victims have been notified.

“We have notified the families. Fourteen-year-old Blake Christopher Busbee was pronounced (dead) on the scene, and 42-year-old Walter Lee Wright Jr. was taken to Phoebe North, but then transferred to Phoebe Main for surgery and was pronounced around 10 p.m. The occupants of the Ford Mustang were related. It is my understanding that Carrie Pritchard was the aunt.”

According to Hager, charges are pending the results of GBI blood alcohol tests and could include vehicular homicide misdemeanor or DUI vehicular homicide felony, along with three counts of child safety restraints.

According to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, 1,432 people were killed last year on Georgia’s roads, and 25 percent of the deaths were related to alcohol.

“This is a tragic way to start the holiday weekend,” said Hager.