12 people killed on Georgia roads over long Thanksgiving weekend

Twelve people were killed in car crashes in Georgia over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, according to the state Department of Public Safety.

Though troopers investigated 556 crashes, that marked a drop from the same weekend in 2018, numbers show. And this year, more cars were expected to hit the roads.

From Wednesday evening through Sunday night, Georgia troopers investigated hundreds of crashes that killed nine people and injured 214, the DPS said. Local police agencies investigated three additional fatal crashes, bringing the number of deaths to 12. Four of the fatal crashes were in metro Atlanta, according to investigators.

Last year, 15 people died on Georgia roads during the same time period, according to the DPS. Troopers investigated 610 traffic crashes that resulted in 242 injuries and 10 fatalities, and local police agencies investigated five other fatal crashes.

More drivers were expected on the road this year compared with previous Thanksgiving holidays because of a robust economy and lower gasoline prices, according to the auto service association AAA. An estimated 1,476,319 drivers and passengers were expected to travel in Georgia, a 3.1% increase over 2018, AAA said.

Deadly crashes were reported in Fulton, Clayton and Henry counties, and in Toccoa and Athens, the DPS said. Three fatal crashes were reported in South Georgia.

Early Friday morning, portions of I-75 and I-675 were closed in Henry County following a multivehicle wreck that killed one person, according to police. Later that day, a motorcyclist was ejected and killed while traveling on I-85 in South Fulton, police said.

In addition to the crash investigations, troopers arrested 325 people for driving under the influence, down from 339 in 2018, the DPS said.

CONTRIBUTED One person was killed after being ejected from a motorcycle Friday morning on I-85 in South Fulton, according to police.