A Hephzibah man was killed Thursday morning in a wreck on Deans Bridge Road, marking the third traffic fatality this week in Richmond County.
Darrell Walker, 56, was rushed to Wellstar MCG Health after the two-car collision wreck on Deans Bridge Road and Dover Street. The wreck happened at 7:06 a.m., and Walker was pronounced dead at the hospital at 7:41 a.m., Coroner Mark Bowen said.
The sheriff’s office said the wreck caused serious injuries to those involved, but no further details were available. A witness video shows one of the vehicles struck a building off the road.
The tragic fatality came just 24 hours after another fatality on Mike Padgett Highway north of Tobacco Road. Authorities say 58-year-old Andrew Mark Pregel IV was killed Wednesday in a wreck.
His spouse, Laura Rice, said online that Pregel had three sons and a daughter and served in the Army until his retirement.
“He was returning home from work at Plant Vogel getting ready for a week off when this accident occurred,” Rice said. “We would like to thank all first responders at the accident. I have already stopped to thank them for doing all they could for him. To the other injured person I hope for a quick and safe recovery.”
On Monday, 8-year-old Camden Poole was killed in a crash on Tobacco and Peach Orchard roads. It was his birthday.
Lee Earnest Jones Jr., 49, was charged with misdemeanor vehicular homicide and failure to yield following the fatal collision around 1:04 p.m., authorities said. One vehicle, carrying two adults and a child, was traveling southbound on Peach Orchard Road. The other vehicle, driven by Jones, was heading northbound and attempting a left turn at the intersection when the collision occurred.
All three occupants of the southbound vehicle were taken to the hospital. The child died from his injuries at 2:50 p.m. Monday.
