AREA
Vandals who apparently used rocks to smash an exposed wastewater pipe caused more than 18,000 gallons of sewage to flow into a tributary of Butler Creek, according to the Augusta Utilities Department.
The New Year's Day spill occurred about 8:30 a.m. along a creek behind a home on White Sand Drive.
Crews dispatched to the area found that an exposed pipe at a creek crossing had been broken. The breach was repaired by 2:30 p.m.
"It appeared they had hit it with large rocks until the pipe was broken," said Allen Saxon, the department's assistant director.
2 men sought in theft of catalytic converters
Investigators are asking for the public's help in identifying two men wanted in the theft of catalytic converters from several locations in Richmond County.
The men are accused of removing the part, which contains several precious metals, from vehicles parked at Yohe Plumbing on Franke Industrial Boulevard, Flower's Bakery on Mike Padgett Highway and Jenkins Memorial CME Church in mid-December, according to Investigator Kendall Brown, of the Richmond County sheriff's Copper/Metal Task Force.
Anyone with information can call Investigator Brown at (706) 821-1076. A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered by Yohe Plumbing for information leading to the arrest of any suspects in the case.
GEORGIA
1 dead, 1 injured after Ferrari runs off road
LAWRENCEVILLE --- Gwinnett County police say the driver was killed and his passenger severely burned when a yellow Ferrari went off the road on a curve, struck a culvert and overturned.
Police say 32-year-old Russell E. Hays of Auburn died in the fiery crash Thursday night outside of Lilburn.
The man identified as the car's owner, 36-year-old Todd Willoughby of Lilburn, the founder of a classic car collector Web site, was at Grady Memorial Hospital on Friday. His condition was not immediately known.
Cpl. Illana Spellman, a police spokeswoman, says both men were ejected from the vehicle. She said toxicology tests would determine whether alcohol was a contributing factor.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Mother, daughter struck, killed by SUV
GEORGETOWN --- A mother and her 10-year-old daughter have died after being struck by an SUV while trying to cross a Georgetown County highway.
Coroner Kenny Johnson says 29-year-old Erica Dennison and her daughter, Audrey Dennison, were hit on U.S. Highway 17 Alternate about 6:30 p.m. Thursday. They died from head injuries.
No charges were filed against the driver of the SUV.
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