High School Student Dies in Crash Here

Tragedy struck Jasper County last week, when Jasper County High School student Mary Kate Miller wrecked on Post Road in Monticello, not far from her home, and died in the accident.

The Georgia State Patrol reported that the vehicle traveling north on Post Road. The driver failed to maintain the lane while negotiating a curve and traveled off the right side of the roadway.

After leaving the roadway, the vehicle entered a roadside ditch as it continued in a northern direction where it eventually struck a concrete culvert that ran underneath a private driveway.

After the initial impact with the culvert, the vehicle traveled across he private driveway and entered a swamp where it came to a final uncontrolled rest while facing in a southern direction. After coming to rest, the vehicle, a 2012 Honda Pilot, caught fire. Upon the arrival of fire and EMS personnel, the vehicle had extinguished itself with the driver still within the vehicle having suffered a fatal injury. (Miss Miller’s obituary is on page 2 of today’s paper.)

That accident was one of 18 that deputies responded to last week.

Also last Thursday, emergency officials were called to a possible “dead on arrival” person on Tucker Circle. Officials found Brandy Smith, 42 of Monticello, dead at the scene. There is no evidence of foul play, said Billy Bryant with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office. Ms. Smith apparently had underlying medical conditions, and an opioid overdose is suspected.

Persons arrested in the last week, and their charges, include:

•Daniel Kenneth Bowman, 36, Tignall—probation violation.

•Joshua Scott Hudson, 32, Covington—possession of methamphetamine, improper display of license plate, driving while license suspended or revoked.

•Michelle Jackson Fendley, 49, Mansfield— driving while license suspended or revoked, DUI/ – driving under the influence of alcohol, failure to maintain lane.

•Fredrick Jerome Stone, 57, Monticello—battery/ family violence – second or subsequent offense.

•David Lamar Ewing Jr, 41, Covington—criminal trespass/family violence.

•Charles Gorden Massey, III, 28, Covington— riot in penal institution, simple battery against police officer/LE dog/corrections or detention, probation violation.

•Vernon Richard Walker, 67, Monticello—hold for Clayton County.

•Robert Mackenzie Iacopelli, 29, Macon—probation violation.

•Sarah Jane Powell, 40, Monticello—failure to appear for fingerprintable charge.

•James Nicholas Bailey, 29, Monticello—theft by taking, possession of a Schedule I controlled substance, criminal trespass.

•Sasha Nishay Wharwood, 27, Covington—simple battery.

Deputies also made some 158 traffic stops during the week, and responded to numerous calls of various types.