Augusta, GA
17-year-old hit by two vehicles after I-520 crash, officials say
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A 17-year-old driving a possibly stolen vehicle was critically injured Thursday after fleeing Richmond County deputies, crashing near I-520 and running into interstate traffic, authorities said.
Richmond County deputies went to the area of Barton Chapel Road and Old McDuffie Road at around 8:19 a.m. Thursday for a possible stolen vehicle described as an orange Dodge Challenger.
Deputies located the vehicle at the intersection of Barton Chapel Road and Old McDuffie Road, and as deputies attempted to turn around and make contact, the driver sped away going eastbound on Old McDuffie Road, officials said.
Deputies attempted to follow the vehicle but lost sight of it shortly thereafter.
A short time later, a deputy saw that the Challenger had crashed at the dead end of Old McDuffie Road after traveling through a private fence, authorities say.
The vehicle stopped on an embankment along the southeast shoulder of I-520 eastbound near mile marker 4, according to the sheriff’s office.
As deputies approached the vehicle, deputies said the driver ran across the eastbound lanes of I-520 into oncoming traffic, and was hit by a passing vehicle.
The impact from the first vehicle caused him to hit the windshield of a second vehicle traveling in the same direction, according to officials. He was then propelled over the center barrier wall into the westbound lanes of the interstate.
The driver was transported to Wellstar MCG by Central EMS for treatment and is listed in critical condition, the sheriff’s office said.
Georgia State Patrol has been notified and is leading the investigation into the incident. Any additional information will be released as it becomes available.
The crash shut down all lanes on the interstate for hours on Thursday morning, reopening around 11 a.m.
On Wednesday morning, Richmond County deputies responded to another “serious” crash on Barton Chapel Road, which turned out to be deadly.
According to data provided by the sheriff’s office, traffic collisions in Richmond County decreased by 3% in the past year, from 10,672 in 2024 to 10,402 in 2025.
The more significant decrease came with a 43% in traffic fatalities in the county. Fatalities dropped from 44 in 2024 to 25 in 2025.
More broadly, in Georgia, there were a total of 367,523 crashes in 2024, which is down from 374,006 in 2023, according to GDOT.
There was a total of 1,494 fatal crashes in Georgia in 2024, down from 1,666 in 2023.
GDOT says 76% of the time, fatal crashes are caused by unsafe driving behaviors, including distractions, impairment or driving too fast for conditions.
And in Nov. 2025, the sheriff’s office was one of 26 law enforcement agencies in Georgia to receive a Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic grant. The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety awarded the sheriff’s office with $192,286.36.
The Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic, or H.E.A.T., program is designed to combat crashes, injuries and fatalities caused by impaired driving and speeding, while also increasing seatbelt use and educating the public about traffic safety.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Golden Harvest Food Bank is partnering with local legal organizations for the 15th Annual Georgia Food Frenzy.
The fundraising competition is held in partnership with Feeding Georgia, the Office of the Georgia Attorney General, the State Bar of Georgia, and the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia.
The two-week competition runs from April 20th through May 1st, and every dollar raised stays local, supporting Golden Harvest’s work across the state of Georgia.
Groups can register at www.galegalfoodfrenzy.org/sign-up, and registration will remain open throughout the competition.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Georgia gubernatorial candidate Geoff Duncan campaigned in Augusta ahead of Election Day, making stops at two churches and meeting with local faith leaders.
The former lieutenant governor visited Good Hope Baptist Church on Cedar Street, where he spoke with the Greater Augusta Interfaith Coalition’s “Music to the Polls” group.
Duncan told us that, if elected governor, he wants to expand Medicaid, pass what he called “common-sense gun legislation,” and create more economic opportunities statewide. He also pointed to affordability concerns impacting families and businesses.
“I want to take $1.7 billion of our state’s fund and wrap it around the axle of poverty,” Duncan said, adding that he wants to lower child care costs and improve temporary assistance programs.
Duncan also stopped at Miles Memorial Church on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
NJ apartment dwellers, renters have these options for help with rent
State and local officials say several programs are designed to help low and moderate-income households stay housed in the face of financial distress.
As rent prices continue to strain budgets, a new study is highlighting where Georgians can save the most by splitting housing costs.
According to a report from SmartAsset, some cities in Georgia offer major savings for renters who choose to live with a roommate.
Here’s what to know.
Where can you save the most in Georgia?
The study ranks Augusta as the top city in Georgia for roommate savings, and No. 6 in the country.
Renters there can save about 45% on monthly rent, or roughly $450 per month, by sharing an apartment.
Here’s how the costs compare in Augusta:
- One-bedroom rent: $1,000
- Two-bedroom rent: $1,100
- Estimated monthly savings with a roommate: $450
Why are roommate savings so high?
With rent prices rising, splitting costs has become one of the easiest ways to cut monthly expenses.
The study shows that sharing rent can significantly reduce housing costs, especially in cities where prices have climbed in recent years.
How does Georgia compare to the rest of the country?
Here’s the top 10 cities in the US for saving with a roomate:
- Cleveland, OH
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Jersey City, NJ
- Memphis, TN
- Boise, ID
- Augusta, GA
- New Haven, CT
- Chattanooga, TN
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Shreveport, LA
Methodology
The study analyzed 100 U.S. cities using rental data from March 2025 to March 2026 from Zumper, comparing one-bedroom rents to half the cost of two-bedroom apartments to estimate savings from sharing with a roommate.
For more information, visit smartasset.com/data-studies/roommate-savings-2026.
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
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