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CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. () — In the past month, there have been two pedestrian accidents back-to-back at the same intersection on Ogeechee Road.
The first took place on Aug. 31 around 11:00 p.m. just after the Ogeechee Road and Gamble Road intersection. was on the scene as a man was pronounced dead. A car hit him while he was walking in a non-crossing area, according to the Georgia State Patrol (GSP).
The second incident happened on Sept. 13 at the same time just feet from the August crash. According to a report, this was a hit and run. The pedestrian was also crossing in a non-crossing area. He was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
Marsha Scott witnessed the Sept. 13 incident, according to the police report.
“It looked like they ran him over. I thought it was an animal but it was a person,” Scott said. “He was banged up but I just hope he makes a speedy recovery.”
Scott described that section of Ogeechee Road as dark and she said pedestrians don’t like to use the crosswalk. Scott hopes that changes after these two incidents.
The majority of Ogeechee Road is Chatham County Police Department’s (CCPD) jurisdiction, however an officer with the Savannah Police Department (SPD) was available to discuss the importance of using crosswalks.
“Just from working in the traffic unit, we have responded to many pedestrian accidents where people are not using the crosswalk,” Cpl. Rahim Frazier said. “It just makes you more visible when you walk inside a crosswalk. You just have to stay in well-lit areas also.”
Cpl. Frazier wants bikers to also be aware of laws pertaining to them.
“If there’s a bicycle lane, you should use the bicycle lane. If there’s not, go with the flow of traffic and obey all traffic signals,” Frazier said.
Frazier also urges drivers to be aware while behind the wheel.
“Don’t be distracted on your cell phone or anything like that and just pay attention. If you come up to a traffic signal, most likely there’s a crosswalk there potentially with pedestrians waiting to cross the roadway. Just pay attention to pedestrians and make sure you obey all traffic signals,” Cpl. Frazier said.