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Athens man arrested for fatal Macon Highway crash in December

By FOX 5 Atlanta Digital Team
Published  January 23, 2025 10:24am EST
Athens-Clarke County
FOX 5 Atlanta

The Brief

    • Arrest and Charges: John Orchard, 30, from Athens, has been arrested and charged with Homicide by Vehicle in the First Degree, Driving Under the Influence, and Following Too Close in connection with the December fatal crash on Macon Highway.
    • Crash Details: The incident involved Orchard's Toyota MR2 colliding with a Jeep Gladiator, resulting in the death of 56-year-old Edward Nadeau from Commerce, who was a passenger in the Toyota.
    • Ongoing Investigation: This crash is the 10th fatality in Athens-Clarke County in 2024, and the investigation is still active. Authorities are seeking information from the public to aid in the case.

ATHENS, Ga. - An arrest has been made in connection with a fatal crash that occurred on Dec. 17 on Macon Highway. The Athens-Clarke County Police Department announced that John Orchard, a 30-year-old resident of Athens, has been charged following an investigation into the incident.

What we know:

Orchard, the driver of a Toyota MR2 involved in the crash, was apprehended by the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office on Jan. 21. He faces charges of Homicide by Vehicle in the First Degree (Felony), Driving Under the Influence, and Following Too Close.

The crash took place around 8:30 p.m. near the intersection of Macon Highway and Garden Lane. According to the initial investigation, Orchard's Toyota MR2 was traveling east when it collided with the rear of a Jeep Gladiator that had just turned onto the highway. The impact caused the Toyota to veer off the road and come to a stop in a vacant lot.

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

The driver of the Jeep, a 30-year-old man from Braselton, sustained minor injuries. Orchard was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at a local hospital. Tragically, the front seat passenger in the Toyota, 56-year-old Edward Nadeau from Commerce, was transported to a hospital where he later died from his injuries.

What you can do:

This was the 10th fatal crash in Athens-Clarke County in 2024. The investigation remains active, and authorities are urging anyone with information about the crash to contact Officer First Class Teskey at Bridget.Teskey@accgov.com or 762-400-7022.

The Source

  • The above information was provided in a press release from the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. 

Athens-Clarke CountyCrime and Public SafetyNews