After a time where fatal accidents were on the decline, they have again began rising. Accidents rose between 2015’s rate of 1,432 accidents to 1561 accidents in 2016. In 2017, that rate fell slightly to 1533. So far in 2018, there have been 27 fatal accidents since the start of the year. A few of those accidents occurred in the south Georgia city of Valdosta. The Valdosta Daily Times reports on five Lowndes County road fatalities.
The number of traffic accident fatalities rose on Tuesday in Lowndes County to five since the new year.
Two unrelated accident fatalities on January 16 marked the total of five for a period beginning on January 11th.
On January 16, 60-year-old Carl Gaulke was driving south on Loch Laurel Road near Sportsman’s Cove. 45-year-old Laurie Ann McGuire was driving northbound. Both were attempting to negotiate a curve when Gaulke crossed into oncoming traffic. Gaulke struck McGuire head-on and spun, moving off the shoulder and into a ditch, where he struck a tree.
Gaulke succumbed to his injuries. McGuire and three passengers were uninjured.
All involved were wearing seatbelts.
Earlier that day, 65-year-old Allen Lane was traveling on Highway 84, in the right lane behind another truck driven by 27-year-old Guillermo Cardenas, who was preparing to turn right into a private drive. Behind Lane was Ava Latisha Hardee, 38.
As Cardenas began to make his turn, Lane slowed. Hardee collided with the rear of Lane’s vehicle, which caused Lane to strike the trailer being towed by Cardenas.
Lane had to be extracted from the vehicle and was airlifted to a hospital where he died from his injuries.
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