A 23-year-old Augusta man was killed Tuesday afternoon, becoming the fourth moped rider to die in Richmond County within the past year.
Ammon Taylor was riding his moped on the 1500 block of Brown Road, just a block from his home, when he was struck by a vehicle, according to Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen. Taylor was transported to Wellstar MCG Health, where he was pronounced dead at 2:13 p.m. Tuesday.
Taylor’s death marks the latest in a troubling series of fatal moped accidents across the county.
On Jan. 26, Duane Rutledge, 65, was hit by a vehicle while riding a moped at the intersection of 13th Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. He later died from his injuries.
On Oct. 1, 2024, 71-year-old Johnny Humphrey of Augusta died at Wellstar MCG Health following a moped-versus-vehicle crash on Mike Padgett Highway near Phinizy Road.
Earlier that year, on Aug. 28, 2024, Robert Brown, 60, also of Augusta, was riding north on Peach Orchard Road when he collided with a vehicle turning onto Harold Road. Brown later died at Wellstar MCG Health.
These incidents underscore a rising concern about moped safety in the region, especially as they become a more common mode of transportation.
Mopeds, while economical and accessible, present significant risks on high-speed roads and highways, according to transportation experts. Their smaller size and lower speeds make them less visible to other drivers and more vulnerable in collisions. Highways, in particular, are designed for faster-moving, more durable vehicles, and do not always account for slower two-wheeled traffic. Without the structural protections of cars, moped riders face greater odds of serious injury or death when accidents occur.
Note: If you have a photo of Ammon Taylor to share, please text it to 803-487-3224.
