Jones County had two traffic fatalities in December, less than a week apart, both with unusual circumstances.
Louis Michael Ryan, 78, of Macon, died Dec. 22 of injuries that resulted from an accident involving a 2012 Ford Escape and the bicycle he was riding. The time of the accident is estimated at 3:30 p.m., and the location was Gray Highway near Braswell Lake Road.
The report of the accident by Jones County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Christopher Shurley states Ryan was traveling south on Gray Highway in the right lane. The Escape was traveling in the same direction, also in the right lane.
The report states the Escape struck the bicycle in the rear with the right front portion of the car. As a result, the bicycle and its rider left the road and came to rest in the ditch.
Ryan was pronounced deceased at the scene. The cause of death was the collision and impact.
Subsequent reports of the accident stated the victim was known as a safety advocate who promoted safer streets.
The driver of the Escape told the officer she did not see the bicycle or the rider until the accident.
Side by side fatality
The second fatal accident took place Dec.
28 and took the life of 31-year-old Allison Schwartz. The estimated time of the accident was 2:30 a.m., according to the report of Deputy Christopher Shurley. The location of the accident was approximately two miles down Barron Russell Road.
The report states and Allison Schwartz was a passenger on a 2018 Polaris Side by side that was driven by Zachary Taylor Schwartz.
The vehicle was traveling westbound toward Round Oak-Juliette Road. The information received by Shurley was the side by side was traveling when a dead pine tree from the wood line fell across the roadway. The driver reportedly applied the brakes and left approximately 32 feet of marks prior to impact.
The impact snapped the tree, and the vehicle continued another 24 feet, where it struck the eastbound embankment.
The front left axle was broken, and the passenger was ejected, suffering fatal injuries.
The driver was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Shurley indicated evidence had been collected at the scene, and the accident remains under investigation.
