Two people were killed this morning after a wreck in Houston County.
Corporal Justin Hall with the Houston County Sheriffs Office says 21-year-old Devan Smith, the driver of a Maroon Ford truck died in route to the Medical Center Navicent Health. The second victim, Hall says, is 38 -year-old Gary William Shave, the driver of a black Tacoma truck. He was also pronounced dead at the scene.
Claire Davis spoke with people who work on that stretch of road who say they've seen several wrecks there over the last few.
A wreck on Highway 247 in Houston County Tuesday morning claimed the lives of two men. Houston County Sheriff's Office Corporal Justin Hall says it happened just before 7 a.m. when a maroon Ford pickup crossed over the center lane into northbound traffic, colliding with a black Toyota Tacoma. 21-year-old Devan Smith of Byron, who was driving the pickup, died on the way to a hospital. Gary William Shave, who was 38, was driving the Tacoma. He died on the scene.
Tina Evans says this isn't the first time she's seen serious wrecks. "We've seen several accidents it gets very hectic in the early mornings and late afternoons," said Evans.
She manages the White Diamond Grill and has looked out this window onto highway 247 every day for more than 20 years. She says Tuesday's wreck hits close to home and she hopes folks slow down and pay attention to their surroundings. "I think it's from the congestion of the traffic and everybody in a hurry to get home in the afternoons and to get to work early in the mornings," said Evans.
Right next door at McDonald's Horse Supply and Western Wear, sales associate William Taylor says accidents outside his business are far too common. "The traffic is so bad usually they let, you know, somebody letting them in and then obviously it's not clearing and they get hit," said Taylor.
Houston County corporal Justin Hall says he's seen several wrecks right here on Highway 247 over the last year. Part of that is because of Houston County's growing population as well as the number of people going on and off Robins Air Force Base.
A third car was involved in that wreck this morning, but no one was hurt. Highway 247 reopened just before 1 pm.
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UPDATE: 9:55 a.m. Houston County coroner Danny Galpin says a second driver has died after that wreck on Highway 247.
The driver was originally headed to Medical Center-Navicent Health in Macon, but suffered cardiac arrest on the way, so EMTs tried to bring him to Houston Medical Center, Galpin said. Instead, the man died on the way, he said.
Names of the two accident victims have not been released.
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One person has been reported dead Tuesday morning in a three-vehicle accident at Hwy 247 near Hwy 96 in Houston County. Hwy 247 lanes are currently closed in both directions between Hwy 96 and Sandy Run Road., said Houston County sheriff's Capt. Ronnie Harlowe.
The Hwy 247-Hwy 96 intersection is open, Harlowe said.
Crews are also working another Houston County accident at Hwy 96 and Moody Road.
