An 82-year-old man was killed New Year’s Eve while attempting to cross S.R.211/Athens Street in Winder.
The victim, identified by Winder Police as Billy Edwards of Bethlehem, was struck just after 8 p.m. as he attempted to cross the roadway on his way to the New Year’s Eve Jug Drop festivities at the Barrow County Museum.
The event was just getting underway when Edwards stepped into the path of an oncoming vehicle.
Edwards was transported to Athens Regional Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.
The New Year's Eve wreck occurred in front of the Barrow County Museum just after the Jug Drop celebration began at 8 p.m. Photo by Jessica Brown
Pedestrian killed on way to Jug Drop event
According to Detective Sergeant Rachel Love, public information officer for the Winder Police Department, the driver of the vehicle does not appear to be at fault.
“Anytime there’s a loss of life it’s certainly a tragedy, especially around the holidays. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Edwards family and the driver of the vehicle during this difficult time,” Love said.
The Jug Drop was hosted by the Barrow County Historical Society. Event organizers estimate that approximately 500 people were in attendance.
The historical society requested and received approval from the City of Winder and Winder Police Chief Stanley Rodgers to close part of Woodlawn Avenue adjacent to the museum for the event, but Athens Street in front of the museum remained open to vehicular traffic.
At the time of the accident, a Winder Police officer was patrolling near the intersection of Athens Street and Woodlawn Avenue - approximately 50 feet from where the accident occurred – and was able to provide an immediate police response to the incident.
Historical society trustee Beth Barton said she and other members of the society are greatly saddened by Edwards’ death.
"We pray for the families of both Mr. Edwards and the driver in this horrible accident,” she said.
The accident remains under investigation.
“Anytime there’s a loss of life it’s certainly a tragedy, especially around the holidays. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Edwards family and the driver of the vehicle during this difficult time,” Love said.
The Jug Drop was hosted by the Barrow County Historical Society. Event organizers estimate that approximately 500 people were in attendance.
The historical society requested and received approval from the City of Winder and Winder Police Chief Stanley Rodgers to close part of Woodlawn Avenue adjacent to the museum for the event, but Athens Street in front of the museum remained open to vehicular traffic.
At the time of the accident, a Winder Police officer was patrolling near the intersection of Athens Street and Woodlawn Avenue - approximately 50 feet from where the accident occurred – and was able to provide an immediate police response to the incident.
Historical society trustee Beth Barton said she and other members of the society are greatly saddened by Edwards’ death.
"We pray for the families of both Mr. Edwards and the driver in this horrible accident,” she said.
The accident remains under investigation.
It was reiterating the beginning of Winder, GA.
I think it was perfectly fine for the Historical Society to plan an event of this nature because too many people aren't getting the memo that we cannot forget our past...
It was also informing people who live here how Winder was a very prosperous pottery making community...
Maybe some of the people on this blog need to take some type of arts lessons to vent their anger and do something more constructive than criticize people and maybe learn some history about our city in the process
We have the Piedmont Arts Center right here in Winder if you would like to sign up for lessons.
Junior Johnson said it best: Me and my daddy made liquor and went to federal prison; Joe Kennedy's son went to the white House.
So you see some of use southern "white" folk don't like the idea either.
As far as the elderly gentleman who died. Why wasn't the road closed? Could have detoured traffic by Holly Hill onto 29. Guess the party planners didn't think of that.
This was a planned event with a large number of people expected. Proper precautions should have been taken!
I agree very very poor decision on the people who planned this event. I do live here, and am not related to any party. With that said that is a very poorly lit area, without any crosswalks. Should someone not have been directing traffic? I don't understand why they would have picked that location as opposed to the pavillion. Makes no sense to me.
As far as the man who lost his life and the driver, please lets let the investigation finish. Why should everyone assume this person is at fault or either one for that matter. If he did nothing wrong people would still accuse them of wrong doing, just as they are here in this forum. And why accuse the law enforcement of being crooked without knowing them. There are still many who risk their lives not for notority but for the protection of citizens.
My understanding this was a young person and I can't imagine how this has affected them as well.
Again God Bless both families.
I was there and this was a horrible, horrible accident and nothing more.
Do you even know how the police in car camera's work?? Stupid question of me of course the answer is NO.
I would love to see you go to the Chief of Police or to the Sheriff and make the statement you printed.
I bet you are one of those people who love to bash the police behind their backs but even quicker to call them when you need their help. Think about that the next time you dial 911. Or better yet, don't dial 911, just handle it yourself.
Mr Edwards' family has planned a funeral and the driver has lost something as well.
I hope the City of Winder or Historical Society will have a candlelight vigil in honor of this family. I also hope the family can someday find peace about their overwhelming loss. We need to remember that the young man who hit him is dealing with some major emotional upsets as well and his life will never be the same because of this. Also he may be reading all these comments which may only serve to make his life even more tormentuous than it already became on 12-31-2009.
Jug planners and the City of Winder: please consider holding a vigil to show some respect to the families. Forget about the blame and the thing that "it can happen anywhere." It happened in Barrow and therefore Barrow is accountable to demonstrate some form of respect.
My sympathies to the family who lost a loved one who I am sure had many who loved him and cared for him and my sympathies to the driver and his family who I am sure is going through a lot of emotional pain right now and for a long time to come. Both families are suffering right now and I am praying for all. I agree that a candlelight vigil for Mr. Edwards would be a very nice thing to do.
I don't fault the driver, I fault the committee that planned this event. If I were the family, that's who I'd go after.
Stop passing the blame buck and take credit for screwing up.
As for cross walks, who crosses at cross walks during a major town event?! Yes if it was 8 PM on a typical Friday night or any other time I could see it as jaywalking... however there was a MAJOR town event going on. The particular street was in front of the event. When you are at Wal-mart do you cross in the crosswalk or just walk out in front of cars?
The event started at 8pm sharp - the accident was at 8:09pm - yes, the police were there but they were not set up yet to direct traffic. The ones my family and I saw were socializing. We heard the accident, heard a woman scream "Oh my GOD", saw the man jump from his car and be the first one to Mr. Edwards.... there was another gentleman that was standing there.... then a police officer "Walked" over... then action and care started. One officer was overheard saying it was the Cities fault... Several people were being rude and uncaring for small children that were there - and to the condition of Mr. Edwards.
It was an event held by The Historical Society with the City's Participation - There should have been better prep on both counts - even though the SR211 can not be closed, it can be re-routed, police officers could have been in place at 7:45pm with lights on. It was not Mr. Edwards' fault nor that of the driver - it was the city and the historical society for not protecting the participants....if it had been one of the "Higher Ups" that was in attendance, this would be playing out differently.
Drivers on public roadways have the right of way. Pedestrians are require by Georgia law to cross the street at crosswalks and to yield to traffic on the roadway (OCGA 40-6-92). There is no "MAJOR event" exception to the law.
It's a tragedy that the pedestrian illegally crossing the roadway was struck and killed by a vehicle who had the right of way. By all accounts the driver of the vehicle was driving as he should have been given the circumstances. By all accounts the pedestrian, wearing dark clothing, at night, walked into the path of his vehicle. Tragic.
This organizers of this event (which should have never taken place) should have hired security to direct traffic or should have arranged for some police officers to be there to direct traffic. My guess is there was a fee for this or the city required a permit to shut the road down and the planners didn't want to sped the money. The pedestrian paid the price for their poor planning with his life. Suffice it to say, I hope the BCHS does not intend to make this an annual event...
How can you say "walked into the path of the vehicle" when he was almost to the other side of the road?? Maybe there was no car coming at all when he stepped out into the road to cross it?
It was very poor planning by the city of Winder and the young man behind the wheel hopefully learned a lesson to never take his eyes off the road for any reason.
Its obvious a car was coming because he got hit by it. I would venture to say that an 82 year old man didn't hop, skip, run, jump or do cartwheels to get in front of the vehicle. That means that unless he was carried into the path of the vehicle that struck him; then he walked into the path of the vehicle that struck him. The fact that he "almost" made it across is irrelevant.
A car traveling 35 mph travels 500 feet in 9 seconds. How long does it take to walk across the street? You can see much further than 500 feet down Athens Street if you look before you step out into traffic. Unfortunately the pedestrian doesn't have a second chance to learn a lesson from his mistake.
Oh, and the mathematical equations are correct. I was simply using the speed/time/distance traveled as an example of the distance a vehicle covers at constant velocity. Factors do affect speed, but constant velocity is consistent. Witnesses did not note that the vehicle in question rapidly accelerated. By all accounts the driver was driving as he should have been.
City of Winder never let this lack of judgement happen again. I pray that none of the planners are blogging making excuses. There is a funeral being planned as we speak.
It is a sad situation that might possibly could have been prevented if an inquiry had been made with the City about how to proceed with traffic and police protection.
My thoughts go out to the family and the driver.