One day after five people died in a two-vehicle wreck on GA 365, Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell told county commissioners that something has to be done to make the county’s main thoroughfare safer.
“We’ve been battling this battle for years,” Terrell said.
In a broken voice, the sheriff told commissioners, “A Hall County deputy lost his wife and two children yesterday because somebody was speeding.” He said the Corvette that crashed into the SUV carrying Avonlea Holtzclaw and her two small children, Maddie Kate and Colt, was “running in excess of 150 miles per hour.”
“When’s it going to end?” Terrell asked the commissioners.
The Sheriff did not say at the meeting where he got that figure regarding the Corvette’s speed. Contacted by Now Habersham afterward, he said it was “just an estimate based on evidence from the wreck.”
Some criticized the sheriff for his comments claiming they were premature and unfounded.
The Georgia State Patrol on Tuesday released a statement in response to Now Habersham’s request regarding whether speed was a factor in the crash. Assistant Post 7 Commander Cpl. Larry Ray says, “At this time, speed is being investigated as a possible contributing factor to this collision. The investigation is ongoing, and no further details related to speed can be released until the completion of the investigation.”
How many more have to lose their lives?
Sheriff Terrell blames the many uncontrolled intersections and crossovers along the Habersham County stretch of GA 365 for the high volume and severity of wrecks that occur.
The five-fatality crash Sunday at Mt. Zion Road in Alto was the second multi-fatality wreck at that crossover in less than two years. It was also the second wreck to force a major highway shutdown in Habersham over the weekend.
A serious injury wreck Saturday on GA 365 on the north end of the county sent seven people to the hospital, including two who were airlifted to hospitals.
“For the volume of traffic and crossovers, they are so dangerous. How many more people have to lose their lives?” Terrell questioned.
The Sheriff said he has spoken with State Representatives Victor Anderson (R-Cornelia) and Chris Erwin (R-Homer), as well as State Senator Bo Hatchett (R-Cornelia).
“They are onboard, and they are going to get a meeting together with DOT, and we have got to sit down with them, and we have got to have some answers for the rest of these crossovers.”
Terrell told the commissioners and those in the audience at Monday night’s meeting they need to be involved too. Terrell plans to set up meetings with “numerous people” to brainstorm ideas for suggestions to give to the state transportation department. And he implored commissioners to act.
“Please, help me to get with them [DOT]. We got to get something done to change all that.”
This article has been updated to include additional comments
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