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Published Monday, January 30, 2012 in Local

Bullsboro at I-85 top spot for wrecks in Newnan

By John Winters

The Newnan Times-Herald

Last year, two people were killed in the more than 1,800 traffic accidents that occurred within the city limits of Newnan.

Overall, there were 1,834 accidents involving 3,668 vehicles, according to information provided by the Newnan Police Department.

Based on statistics, the number one problem area is Bullsboro Drive at Interstate 85. It's also where the two fatalities occurred.

"The most dangerous, the most wrecks are at the Interstate 85 southbound ramp," said Sgt. Lane Yearta with the department's traffic division. "It's more on the off-ramp, but we see them on the on-ramp as well."

Last May, 16-year-old Taylor Brooke McKee, of Roopville, and Linda Devora LeFlore, 29, of Newnan, were killed when McKee's vehicle T-boned LeFlore's.

McKee was westbound on Bullsboro Drive when she ran a red light, according to authorities and published reports. LeFlore was on the southbound I-85 ramp attempting to head east on Bullsboro toward Peachtree City when McKee hit her.

McKee was pronounced dead at Piedmont Newnan Hospital. LeFlore was pronounced dead at the scene.

DUIs, people on cell phones or other distractions remain the primary causes of accidents.

The majority of wrecks within Newnan are rear-enders, primarily due to people not paying attention and following too closely, Yearta said.

"You have to keep enough room between you and the vehicle in front of you for anything that might happen... that's what the law says," the sergeant said.

"Even if someone slams the brakes on in front of you, you need to be able to stop," he added.

Most accidents within the city occur at intersections and primarily involve people running red lights or rear-ending someone else. And many of those are on Bullsboro.

During daylight hours, accidents on Bullsboro are usually not as serious simply because of the high volume of traffic -- people have to drive slower.

"Luckily, with as much traffic as we have in daytime, we don't see as bad crashes... speed isn't such a problem," Yearta said.

That changes at night.

"We can get some pretty terrible accidents at night," Yearta said. "There's less traffic and much higher speeds."

Overall, the two most dangerous intersections are Bullsboro Drive at the I-85 southbound ramps and Bullsboro at Newnan Crossing Bypass.

The two intersections with the most accidents are Bullsboro at the I-85 southbound ramps and Bullsboro at Highway 34 Bypass.

"People just need to slow down, put down the cell phones and pay attention to their driving," Yearta said. "Be defensive, watch what other drivers are doing and be prepared for any situation that can quickly occur."