Dawn Castro
The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA —
A total of 13 traffic deaths were reported all over the state of Georgia during the 78-hour Labor Day holiday travel period that began at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 3, and ended at midnight Labor Day, Georgia State Patrol officials reported. One of those occurred in Lanier County.
A second one occurred in Lowndes County.
LANIER COUNTY
An airman stationed at Moody Air Force Base was killed in a single-car accident Monday.
At 2:06 a.m., between Walker’s Crossing and the city of Lakeland, Staff Sgt. Katherine Lynn Fisher, 29, died after being ejected from her vehicle, said Sgt. Carl Taylor, Georgia State Patrol Post 31 commander.
The 2005 Toyota Camry driven by the victim was traveling westbound on Highway 122, Taylor said, when the accident occurred.
The Lanier County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia State Patrol, and Lanier County Coroner Patches Phillips responded to the scene.
Taylor noted that the vehicle was negotiating a curve when it went out on the south shoulder and struck a mailbox. The vehicle became airborne and struck a tree. Fisher was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene.
It was not known at press time if alcohol played a part in the fatal accident. Taylor said that will be determined with a blood test.
Moody Air Force Base issued a statement Tuesday that noted that Fisher was an aircraft scheduler with the 23rd Maintenance Operations Group and a resident of Kent, Wash. She entered the Air Force on July 19, 2000, and arrived at Moody four years later.
Col. Neal Robinson, 23rd Maintenance Group commander, said, “It is a great loss to us all when we lose a member of our Air Force family. I extend my deepest condolences and prayers to Sgt. Fisher’s family and friends during this tragic time.”
LOWNDES COUNTY
Police continue investigating a car accident that claimed the life of a Valdosta woman Sunday.
At approximately 9:30 a.m., in the 3000 block of Bemiss Road, a motorist reportedly ran a red light and was struck by the northbound vehicle driven by 87-year-old Marjori K. Crawford, according to police reports.
Valdosta Police Lt. Aaron Kirk said Tuesday that Daniel Coulstring, 17 has been cited for running a red light and additional charges are pending the outcome of the investigation.
“She struck the other vehicle and went to the shoulder on Inner Perimeter,” Watson said.
The Valdosta Police Department and emergency medical services were dispatched to the scene. Both injured parties were transported to South Georgia Medical Center for treatment.
Watson said Crawford was alert and talking and able to provide information to the responding officials.
While in the hospital, she died from the apparent injuries she sustained. Watson said he arrived at SGMC and pronounced her dead at 12:40 p.m. Sunday.
