HOMER — Wrecks at the intersection of Ga. 198 and Ga. 63 in Banks County have claimed too many lives and injured too many people, Banks County officials say.
The most recent wreck occurred Thursday afternoon, Feb. 18, and claimed the life of Zachary Beck, 27, of Clayton and critically injured his passenger, 26-year-old Joshua Wagner of Loganville.
"It's just a dangerous intersection," Commission Chairman Jimmy Hooper said Tuesday night. "It's gone so far as the chairman of commissioners in Franklin County has called and expressed interest because a good many Franklin County citizens drive that road and it is a dangerous intersection."
Tuesday night, the county commission voted unanimously to sign a letter drafted by Hooper to the Georgia Department of Transportation.
"The Banks County Board of Commissioners care about the traffic safety of our citizens and for anyone that travels in our county," the letter states. "This safety hazard will not go away unitl there is an effort made to make this intersection safer. We ask that you send an inspection team to assess the dangers and make necessary changes to ensure the safety of our citizens."
Currently, a number of wrecks occur when vehicles pull from Ga. 63 into the path of vehicles traveling on Ga. 198, often at close range. Officials say people mistake the intersection for a four-way stop.
Hooper said while he realizes a four-way stop requires study, he's hopeful additional signage denoting a dangerous intersection or that Ga. 198 doesn't stop, as well as pavement striping, might help reduce collisions until a study can be completed.
"Anything to draw attention to that dangerous intersection," Hooper said. "Any life is important, but we don't want to lose any more over there."
