Fewer Traffic Fatalities Reported Over Labor Day Weekend

There was a significant drop in traffic fatalities on Georgia Roads over the Labor Day weekend, according to the Georgia Department of Public Safety.

(Editor's Note updated 5:45 p.m.)

A spokesman for the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) confirmed that Alex Fowlin, reported as deceased in a Saturday night accident in Rockdale County, is in fact still alive.

"I've just received confirmation that Alex Fowlin, the 10-year-old from ," GSP spokesman Gordy Wright said in a release. "The trooper was given inaccurate information that led to the person being reported as a fatality."

Wright said he would pass along information as it became available. This would reduce the traffic fatalities to six instead of seven as originally reported.

During the 78-hour travel weekend that began on Friday at 6 p.m. through Monday at midnight, there were six fatalities and 435 crashes with 225 injuries statewide.

Wright also explained in an e-mail to Cumming Patch the reason for the lower number this year, "The heavy rain which kept traffic lighter. Stepped up enforcement and higher seat belt use were also contributing factors."

Last year the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) reported 360 crashes with 211 injuries and 13 fatalities. Statewide in 2010, with all agencies reporting, there were 14 fatalities, 2,580 crashes and 1,042 injuries reported.

The fatalities over the weekend included one by authorities in Cherokee County, one from the Georgia State Patrol Post in Athens, one from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, one from the Pike County Sheriff’s Office, one from the GSP Post in Thomasville and two from the GSP Post in Walton County.