Augusta, GA
Driver ID’d in Riverwatch wrong-way crash that injured trooper
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A 24-year-old has been identified on Tuesday as the other driver involved in the wrong-way crash on Riverwatch Parkway that injured a Georgia State Patrol trooper.
William Hawkins, 24, of Augusta, was confirmed to be the driver of the Toyota 4Runner involved in the crash on Friday night, according to GSP information officer, Joshua.
He says that Hawkins condition is unknown as of Tuesday morning, officials say.
The trooper, identified as Trooper First Class 1 Zachary Walker, is stable and has a “long road to recovery,” a GSP public information officer says.
According to GSP, at 11:09 p.m. Walker was driving traveling east on Riverwatch Parkway near mile marker 3.5 when he was hit head-on by a Toyota 4Runner that was traveling in the wrong direction.
Witnesses described what it was like to see the driver going the wrong way.
It was too close of a call for some.
“I play the thing over and over in my head every day. Because it’s like we could have been gone,” said Cheryl Hall.
One minute she was driving down Riverwatch Parkway, and then the next she says headlights were in front of her coming from the wrong way.
“When I was getting close to the curb, I noticed some lights and car lights. And I’m like, those lights look awfully close. And soon as we hit the curb was going around the curb. The car was flying around. So I was able to pull up onto that shoulder real quick. And I’m honking my horn at same time. Like they not even putting on breaks. My heart sank. And I was just shaking and stuff. And she was shaking, too,” she said.
Just minutes before the accident Mitchell Barton also saw a car driving down Riverwatch going the wrong way.
“I had to do a double take, I looked over and look back again. I was like, Man, that guy is on the wrong side of the road,” said Mitchell Barton.
Hall said: “Oh my god, that’s all I could say. And once we got home, I was like, we could have died tonight because as fast as he was going, I’m pretty sure it would have been tragic for us.”
Officials say Walker was seriously injured and had to be extracted from the vehicle.
Walker and Hawkins were taken to Wellstar MCG hospital, authorities say.
GSP says this is an active investigation.
Walker was a Richmond County deputy before resigning in May of 2019, then starting at the Georgia State Patrol that same month and year.
He’s had some recent training about traffic accident management and pursuits, according to records with the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council.
He is listed as being in good standing with no sanctions or investigations.
A recent post by the Georgia Department of Public Safety noted that he is set for promotion to corporal.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, Ga. – Augusta managed just five hits and one run and fell to Georgia Southwestern 12-1 Sunday as the Hurricanes win two of the three games of the series. The Jaguars are now 7-2 in Peach Belt Conference play and 11-8 overall. The Canes improve to 7-2 in conference play and 12-7 overall.
Georgia Southwestern scored runs in all but one inning including four runs in the first two innings and plated five runs in the fifth, highlighted by a grand slam.
The only Augusta run would come in the fourth inning. Landon Leonard would reach on an error and would come around when Kent Moon reached on a fielder’s choice that would plate Leonard.
Leonard, Moon, Davis Newman, Harris Bachelder and Jakob Cowart would collect the hits for the Jaguars.
Augusta will next be in action on Friday when the open up a three game series with Lander at Jaguar Field. First pitch on Friday is set for 6:00 p.m.
Fans of Jaguar Athletics can subscribe to the email listserve by clicking here. Fans can follow Augusta University at www.augustajags.com and receive short updates on Facebook at Augusta University Athletics and on Twitter at @AugustaJags.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Local protestors made their voices heard after Israel and the U.S. announced strikes on Iran Saturday, ones that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reports say.
Protesters lined 13th Street in Downtown Augusta and walked across the river to North Augusta to make sure as many people as possible heard them.
50501 CSRA already had a march planned for Saturday, but in light of the strikes on Iran, decided to expand its focus.
Local leaders spoke about their concerns for the strikes, and roughly 60 people showed up to share theirs as well.
One of the event organizers said to make your voice heard your voice heard.
“Just call your people, call your representatives, if you don’t like that Iran was bombed, I don’t either. But call people and let them know, email them. Let it be relentless. Congress did not approve this. They have a say in this,” Zee Cook said.
The strike is being called “Operation Epic Fury,” with Iran responding with multiple missile and drone strikes across the Middle East.
In a social media post, President Trump said the bombing of the country will continue “as long as necessary.”
People across the world began lining the streets as well in support and against the decision.
Leaders across the world reacted to the news, including those in Georgia and South Carolina.
There’s a protest planned in Charleston and other regional cities this week.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The city of Augusta announced a temporary closure of New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam Park.
Closure of the park at 2105 Lock and Dam Road will allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to repair the lock and dam structure.
The park will be closed from March 4 to April 7.
All areas of the park will be closed.
However, the Baurle Boat Ramp will remain open and accessible to the public for fishing and boating activities.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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