The Richmond County Coroner’s Office has confirmed that an 80-year-old Hephzibah man, Edwin Potter, died Monday evening following a traffic accident on Deans Bridge Road.
According to Coroner Mark Bowen, the crash occurred around 2:51 p.m. in the 4300 block of Deans Bridge Road, which is located in Blythe.
Sheriff’s Sgt. John Perry said a pickup truck was traveling southbound on Deans Bridge Road, attempting to turn left into the landfill entrance. At the same time, an SUV was traveling northbound. Preliminary investigation suggests the pickup truck turned into the path of the SUV, causing a collision. The pickup truck was occupied by the driver and a passenger, while the SUV was occupied by its driver.
Potter was transported by EMS to Wellstar MCG, where he was later pronounced dead at 9:21 p.m. A passenger in Potter’s vehicle was also taken to the hospital, though their condition remains unknown at this time.
The tragic loss has left a void in the Blythe community. John Engel, a local resident, shared a heartfelt message on social media, calling Potter “a true guardian angel of the school system.”
Engel recalled Potter’s significant contributions, including his instrumental role in the Blythe School’s backpack program and his fundraising efforts for the Christmas candy program. Engel further reflected, “When you see a beautiful garden, you don’t see the fertilizer but you can be sure it happened. That’s Ed Potter.”
