Home / Disasters and Accidents / Georgia Sees Spike in Fatalities Over July 4th Weekend
Georgia Sees Spike in Fatalities Over July 4th Weekend
6 Jul
Summary
- Over a dozen lives lost on Georgia roads and waters during the holiday.
- Deadly crashes nearly doubled compared to the previous year's holiday.
- Law enforcement reported hundreds of DUI and distracted driving arrests.
Georgia witnessed a significant increase in traffic and water fatalities during the recent Fourth of July weekend celebrations. Law enforcement reported more than a dozen deaths across the state's roads and waterways. Specifically, 11 individuals lost their lives in road crashes across ten different counties, a stark rise from the six fatalities reported during the same period last year.
Authorities are investigating a particularly tragic incident in Polk County where a one-year-old girl died after a vehicle crash. The investigation suggests speeding and the infant not being in a car seat were contributing factors. In response to holiday travel, law enforcement conducted extensive enforcement, leading to 372 DUI arrests and numerous citations for distracted driving and seat belt violations.
Waterways also saw increased patrols due to the holiday, with game wardens charging 34 individuals with boating under the influence. Six boating incidents were reported, with half occurring on Lake Lanier. Tragically, four drownings occurred over the weekend, an increase from the previous year. The year-to-date total for water fatalities has now reached 33.
