Two men tried to cross Eatonton Road on the evening of Dec. 8, and both were struck by vehicles.
Jimmy Love, 67, of Athens, succumbed to his injuries at the scene, according to the Georgia State Patrol (GSP), and Robert Higgins, 65, of Madison, was airlifted to Grady Hospital in Atlanta with serious injuries.
According to the GSP, troopers responded to the accident around 9 p.m. near the intersection of Eatonton and Fairground roads. When they arrived, the troopers learned that it was actually two separate accidents involving different vehicles.
The GSP said Love entered the southbound lane of Eatonton Road traveling west, and a black Mercedes traveling south near the intersection of Fairground Road struck him, causing the fatal injury.
Moments later, Higgins tried to cross at the same spot. He was struck by a blue Mercury passenger vehicle.
“It is believed the pedestrian just witnessed the first pedestrian being struck and was going toward him,” the GSP report stated. “As Higgins neared the deceased pedestrian, the front of the Mercury struck the responding pedestrian.”
The GSP concluded that the two men were likely walking together but not directly beside one another. They were both suspected to have been under the influence of alcohol.
“In this area, there is no crosswalk and minimal lighting,” the GSP report stated. “Also, the two men were wearing dark clothing.”