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More photos below the article. This photo and other road photos submitted by a local law enforcement officer.
Wreck at Concord and Bottoms Road. Photo submitted.
Pretty snow turns to ice when a tire runs over it.
The Kings Bridge Road Wreck. Photo submitted.
By Editor Becky Watts
ZEBULON - Snow can be beautiful. Pike County received almost two inches earlier this week. However, with the snow comes the ice, and we had quite a bit of ice on the roads as the snow began melting or was driven over by vehicles on the roadways.
The roads were so bad that the schools were closed on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and the ice was still bad in spots on Friday morning into the afternoon. Residents were urged to stay off of the roads on Wednesday and Thursday though Pike County did not issue a curfew.
The first photo above was from a wreck that occurred at Concord and Bottoms Road on Wednesday, January 17. The vehicle did not appear to have rolled or flipped, and there were just cuts and abrasions rather than something more serious due to ice on the road.
Major David Neal of the Pike County Sheriff’s Office advised that between Wednesday morning around 5 a.m. and today at 8 a.m. there were 33 motor vehicle accidents in Pike County. Some were as simple as a vehicle sliding into the ditch and no one was injured, but some were more serious. The worst storm related accident occurred last night.
Last night around 12:38 a.m. a one vehicle accident occurred at Kings Bridge Road near River Road. Pike County Deputies and volunteers from the Pike County Fire Department as well as Grady/South Georgia Ambulance responded to the scene of the accident.
One of our volunteer fire fighters was injured while helping at the scene this morning. Temperatures were around 23 degrees. The picture shows where the top of the vehicle had to be removed in order to remove the driver.
Joseph Powell, age 34 from Meansville, was driving the 2003 Chevy Trailblazer. Pike County Fire Department personnel worked for over four hours to extricate Powell from his wrecked vehicle. He was transported by helicopter to Grady Hospital in Atlanta.
Ice on the road and alcohol were possible contributing factors. The accident is still under investigation by the Pike County Sheriff’s Office.
Wednesday morning on Hwy 41. Photo submitted.
Wednesday morning on Hwy 41. Photo submitted.
Wednesday morning. Photo submitted.
Photo courtesy of Greg Parrott.
Photo courtesy of Greg Parrott.
Photo courtesy of Greg Parrott.