A car accident, which occurred recently in Gordon County, Georgia, caused the death of a 78-year-old pedestrian. According to the Georgia State Patrol, the fatal collision was likely unavoidable.

The vehicle that collided with the 78-year-old was a patrol car being driven by a 23-year-old county sheriff's deputy. Around 11 p.m., the sheriff's deputy was patrolling near the intersection of U.S. 41 and Georgia 53. As he was driving down U.S. 41, he collided with the pedestrian, who was walking in the deputy's lane of traffic. According to authorities, the man was wearing a darkly colored sweater in an area of the road that was not well lit. The 78-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to records, the pedestrian had been seen walking down the same road earlier in the week. In one situation, emergency services picked him up and made sure he was healthy. They released him. He had also been seen hitchhiking on Interstate 75 before another deputy picked him up and took him to his desired destination.

Georgia State Patrol is conducting the investigation into the fatal crash. The 23-year-old deputy will remain on active duty pending the outcome of the investigation. Charges have not been filed against him.

Although police say this collision may have been unavoidable, that does not make this man's death acceptable. Many people die in pedestrian accidents every year. Along with those individuals, many more family members and friends are left to bear the grief of such tragic incidents. Hopefully this accident will encourage Georgia motorists to always keep a close watch for pedestrians that may be walking along a road or crossing an intersection. It could go a long way toward preventing future fatalities.

Source: Rome News-Tribune, "GSP says fatal accident in Gordon County unavoidable," Sept. 18, 2011