ATHENS, GA — A driver died early Christmas morning after a car struck a tree and caught fire at an intersection in Athens-Clarke County.
The Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD) responded to the crash at the intersection of Barnett Shoals Road and Gaines School Road at approximately 5:53 a.m.
According to police findings, a 2018 Toyota Camry was traveling south on Barnett Shoals Road at a “high rate of speed” before it entered the intersection. The vehicle then crashed into a tree located in the Synovus Bank parking lot.
Police stated that the vehicle “became engulfed in flames” following the impact. The driver died at the scene as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.
Investigators have a “tentative identification” of the driver, but the name has not been released.
This incident marks the “ninth fatality crash, resulting in thirteen deaths in Athens-Clarke County in 2025,” according to the ACCPD.
The investigation is active. Authorities are asking anyone with information regarding the case to contact Officer First Class Sartain at Adam.Sartain@accgov.com or 762-400-7040.
PERSPECTIVE: Athens-Clarke County Fatalities
Here is an infographic visualizing the fatal accident data for Athens-Clarke County over the five-year period from 2020 to 2024.
Key Highlights:
• 2021 was the deadliest year in this period with 24 fatal accidents.
• There is a noticeable fluctuation, with significant drops in 2022 and 2024.
• The data shows a “sawtooth” pattern, rising and falling in alternate years.
The chart above displays the number of fatal accidents per year. The total for this five-year period is 82 fatal accidents (based on the specific yearly counts used: 15, 24, 11, 21, 11).
Comparing Athens-Clarke County to similarly sized and populated counties like Hall and Bibb counties yielded almost identical results.
