2 dead in separate crashes on Tuesday in Athens-Clarke County area

Two separate vehicle crashes on Tuesday in Athens-Clarke County resulted in two fatalities and multiple injuries, according to the Athens-Clarke County Police Department.

Crash on Commerce Road

At approximately 3 p.m., police responded to a collision at the intersection of Commerce Road and Sandy Creek Road. Investigators determined that a black 2004 Toyota Camry, driven by Dorothy Evans, 74, of Commerce, was traveling south in the northbound lanes of Commerce Road when it collided with a black 2020 Kia Rio traveling north.

The front corner of the Toyota struck the front driver’s corner of the Kia. Evans was transported to a local hospital, where she later died from her injuries. The driver of the Kia, a 32-year-old woman from Athens, sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

This crash marks the ninth fatal collision in Athens-Clarke County in 2024. The investigation remains active, and anyone with information is urged to contact Officer Lauren Barnard at Lauren.Barnard@accgov.com or 762-400-7222.

Crash on Macon Highway

Later that evening, at around 8:30 p.m., police were called to another accident near the intersection of Macon Highway and Garden Lane. A Toyota MR2 traveling eastbound on Macon Highway collided with the rear of a Jeep Gladiator, which had just entered the roadway from a driveway. The Toyota then left the road and came to rest in a vacant lot near Garden Lane.

The Jeep’s driver, a 30-year-old man from Braselton, sustained minor injuries. The Toyota’s driver, a 30-year-old man from Athens, was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. However, the Toyota’s passenger, Edward Nadeau, 56, of Commerce, was transported to a hospital, where he died from his injuries.

This crash is the 10th fatal collision in Athens-Clarke County this year. Police are asking anyone with information to contact Officer First Class Bridget Teskey at Bridget.Teskey@accgov.com or 762-400-7022.

Both incidents remain under investigation.