Early morning crashes kill 2 on highways in Richmond County

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Richmond County deputies responded to two early morning crashes just minutes apart on Thursday.

At 3:51 a.m., deputies responded to a crash on Mike Padgett Highway at Bennock Mill Road. Injuries were originally reported in the crash, and a News 12 viewer told us traffic was being rerouted while deputies were on the scene.

Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen confirms the driver, 77-year-old Coy Plummer, was driving near the 4400 block of Mike Padgett Highway when his vehicle was struck on the driver’s side by a vehicle traveling northbound.

Plummer was pronounced dead on the scene at 5:10 a.m. and was extricated from the vehicle. No autopsy is scheduled.

Deputies also responded to an overturned-vehicle crash on the Bobby Jones Expressway exit ramp from Interstate 20.

Deputies responded at 3:59 a.m.

Bowen said a pickup traveling east on I-20 left the roadway and crashed into the I-20/I-520 overpass bridge.

The vehicle burst into flames that were ultimately extinguished by firefighters.

The driver had to be extricated from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:15 a.m.

An autopsy is scheduled, and the driver’s identity will be released once positive identification has been made.

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