Local News
Two pedestrians struck and killed in separate accidents
VALDOSTA — Officials have released the names of two pedestrians who were struck and killed in separate incidents this weekend.
A male pedestrian died during the weekend along Bemiss Road. A female pedestrian died after an incident on North Ashley Street.
Bemiss Road incident
Lowndes County Coroner Bill Watson said that the man who was hit by four vehicles on Bemiss Road early Saturday morning has been identified as 32-year-old Luis Omar Rivera.
Rivera was hit about 4 a.m. along the 3300 block of Bemiss Road, just south of Harveys and Wendy’s, while walking. He died at the scene. Watson said the cause of death was blunt force trauma.
A native of Puerto Rico, Rivera was a Ray City resident who worked as a cook at the Smok’n Pig restaurant, where he had been employed since the restaurant opened nearly a year ago.
The first driver who allegedly hit Rivera has been arrested and charged with DUI and felony leaving the scene of an accident with serious injury or fatality, according to a Georgia State Patrol spokesperson. The GSP representative, who would not identify himself, said that the driver had gotten out of the vehicle after hitting Rivera, realized that he hit someone, got back into his vehicle and left the scene. However, the driver left passengers behind at the scene.
The driver, Jeffrey Lojuk, 25, was arrested in the city limits by the Valdosta Police Department and turned over to the GSP, said Valdosta Police Department Cmdr. Brian Childress.
Lojuk, an airman from Moody Air Force Base, is charged with DUI and felony leaving the scene of an accident with serious injury or fatality, according to the GSP.
Rivera’s remains will be transported back to Puerto Rico, Watson said, where he will be buried. Friends and restaurant employees are planning a memorial service for Rivera next week, following the funeral.
Ashley Street incident
A Valdosta woman who was hit and killed Thursday night has been identified as 67-year-old Geraldine Theriot, according to the Lowndes County coroner.
Theriot was hit around 11:07 p.m. on North Ashley Street, just south of East Moore Street. She was transported to South Georgia Medical Center where she died a short time later. Her cause of death was blunt force trauma, Watson said.
A memorial service for Theriot was held in Valdosta Monday.
Theriot had three children, two from Louisiana and one from Missouri. Theriot and her siblings were raised in Valdosta, a family member told The Times Monday.
Theriot’s family expresses thanks for the prayers and food during their time of bereavement.
Theriot “was crossing North Ashley Street and was struck by a vehicle traveling in the northbound lane of North Ashley Street,” Valdosta Police Lt. Bobbie McGraw said.
Coincidentally, a Valdosta police cruiser happened to be behind the vehicle. The police unit’s in-car camera system recorded the incident, Valdosta Police Cmdr. Brian Childress said last week. The police cruiser was not involved in the incident, but was able to immediately work the scene.
The woman apparently stepped in front of the oncoming vehicle. She made an effort to run but too late, and the vehicle struck her.
Police did not release the driver’s name, but McGraw said no charges have been filed against the driver. Based on the recording, the driver had no chance of stopping the car, Childress said. He didn’t have time to even hit his brakes.
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