17 Fatalities Reported During Thanksgiving Holiday Travel Period Across Georgia

During the 102-hour Thanksgiving holiday travel period from Wednesday, November 27, at 6:00 p.m. to Sunday, December 1, at 11:59 p.m., Georgia experienced a significant number of traffic incidents, resulting in 17 fatalities. The Georgia State Patrol (GSP) investigated eight of the fatal crashes, with local agencies handling the remaining nine.

In total, over 540 traffic crashes were investigated statewide, leading to nearly 265 injuries. GSP troopers and Motor Carrier Compliance Division (MCCD) officers made over 22,550 traffic stops, arrested more than 425 individuals for driving under the influence (DUI), and issued over 17,330 warnings and 12,040 citations. Among the citations, nearly 910 were for seatbelt violations, over 215 for child restraint violations, and more than 730 for distracted driving.

Local police departments from Cobb County, Columbus, DeKalb County, Dougherty County, Lawrenceville, Richmond County, Roswell, and Sandy Springs reported nine of the fatalities. These crash statistics are preliminary and may change as further investigations are completed.