An accident on Mike Padgett Highway today left a woman in critical condition and stalled traffic for several hours.
Around noon, the woman was attempting to make a left turn onto 4-H Club Road from Mike Padgett Highway when a tractor-trailer rear-ended her, said Richmond County sheriff's Sgt. Lonnie Moore.
The woman was taken to the Medical College of Georgia Hospital, Moore said.
The driver of the tractor-trailer has been charged with following too closely and failing to stop in time, Sgt. Moore said.
The southbound and northbound lanes on Mike Padgett Highway were closed up until about 3 p.m., but traffic is moving smoothly now.
In another accident, crews are clearing the highway of dirt after a dump truck crashed on Bobby Jones Expressway this afternoon.
The truck jack-knifed on the highway at the Wrightsboro Road exit around 3:30 p.m., said a Richmond County 911 dispatcher.
Traffic has been reduced to one lane while crews reload the truck.
Comments
When will the DOT start taking our complaints about Hwy 56 seriously? The entire stretch from burke county into richmond county is a death trap!!
Log trucks and tractor trailer's flying like there bums are on fire, people racing.. Has anyone ever even bothered to do a study on just how many live's have been lost on that road???
And as all these trucks had to detour due to that irresponsible accident, they flew (and I use that phrase on purpose) south on Old Waynesboro Road. It seemed like Bobby Jones Expressway had been relocated to a 2-lane highway with a 45 mph speed limit. At times when all these trucks are on the road -- especially Hiway 56 - Richmond County deputies should make this area top priority. And RAISE the fines!!
I totally agree with you pommom38! It's not just the log trucks and tractor trailers flying down Hwy 56, it's everyone. Another bad place is trying to turn onto Brown Road or Allen Station Road (if it's still called that).
ICL, I remember a time (years ago) that you could ride that road and yes, people still acted like whereever they were going wasn't going to be there if they didn't rush, but it wasn't AS bad. Now, it's everyone just setting their own speed limit! And let's not forget all the crosses on either side of the road:(
As the wife of on over the road truck driver, I constantly complain about the chip trucks and the log trucks. They will pull out in front of you at the paper mill without thinking. It happens every day. My husband gets very aggravated with the way some of the truck drivers out there drive. He will be the first to admit their carelessness and lack of regard for other people on the road. He sees it everyday and not just in Augusta. My husband has been driving for seven years - ticket and accident free, as his goal is to get home to his family safely and the same goes for the hundreds of other people he encounters on a daily basis. The debris that the log trucks leave on the road is horrible. Ever try avoiding a 3 foot by 12in around piece of limb falling off the back of one of them. DOT has many issues that needs to be addressed, other than overweight tickets and logbook violations. Its time for DOT to fish or cut bait.
14 deaths in less than 5 years on this stretch of road. Almost had another one today.
10 deaths in the year 2009 alone between Tobacco Rd. and Doug Benard (International Paper) I'd say around 3 since 2010. 85% deaths could have been avoided by a suicide lane....
I've seen more than a couple of log trucks flipped on their sides making the turn off 56 into the paper mill, and drove up on the train derailment (back in '02, I think) right after it happened. A tractor trailer going too fast, couldn't stop and hit the train. It was horrible.
I'm not suggesting that all truck drivers are a menace, btw. I know better than that. It just seems like that particular stretch of road is being ignored by LE, and the bad drivers are definitely taking advantage of the situation.
I drive on Mike Padgett everyday and I can't believe how some people drive on that Hwy. After my accident, I tried to see what could be done to get a suicide lane or change the speed limit but when I called Roads and Bridges in Richmond County they said that I would need to talk to the state. After calling the DOT with the state....they said that it's the counties responsibility. Does anyone know what or how we can get something done?
My thoughts and prayers are with this womans family. Another senseless tragedy, and another cross added to the deathroad:(
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