ATHENS, Ga. — Athens-Clarke County police are investigating a single-vehicle crash that killed a 53-year-old woman Friday morning. This incident marks the third fatal wreck in the area within the last week, bringing the total number of traffic deaths in the county to 14 for the year 2025.
Officers responded to the intersection of North Avenue and Strickland Avenue at approximately 10:02 a.m. on December 26. According to the preliminary investigation, a 2020 Honda Civic was traveling north when it failed to negotiate a curve. The vehicle drove onto the sidewalk and up an embankment before striking a power pole.
The driver, identified as Dejon Ellis of Athens, died at the scene from her injuries.
Series of deadly crashes
This crash follows two other deadly incidents in Athens over the holiday week. On Christmas morning, a driver died after their vehicle struck a tree and caught fire near the intersection of Barnett Shoals Road and Gaines School Road.
Earlier in the week, on December 21, a wrong-way collision on the Georgia 10 Loop resulted in the deaths of four people, including an unborn child. That crash involved a head-on collision near Oglethorpe Avenue that killed both drivers and a passenger.
Police state that the recent string of accidents accounts for six deaths in just seven days.
“The ACCPD Traffic Enforcement Unit urges the public to drive at safe speeds, stay focused on driving, and wear seat belts,” the department said in a statement regarding the recent increase in fatalities.
Authorities are asking anyone with information about the December 26 crash to contact Officer First Class Jenkins at Colin.Jenkins@accgov.com or 762-400-7354.
