Augusta, GA
Cop didn’t chase 3 Augusta teens onto wrong side before deadly crash
The Blythe police officer who tried to pull over a speeding Mercury Sable with three Augusta teens inside did not follow them into the wrong side of the road Friday before the deadly crash, authorities said Saturday.
The high-speed chase in Richmond County ended tragically around 8 p.m. Friday, resulting in the fiery deaths of three young teens. The coroner says two of the victims are believed to be brothers.
The chain of events began when Blythe Officer Thomas Ray attempted to pull over a Mercury Sable for speeding 71 in a 55 mph zone. The driver of the Mercury, however, refused to stop and led the officer on a pursuit on Deans Bridge Road.
“As the vehicle approached the Bath Edie Road intersection, the violator entered the southbound lanes still traveling north, the Blythe PD Officer did not pursue the vehicle on the wrong side of the roadway,” according to the Georgia State Patrol. “After traveling north for approximately one mile, the violator struck a southbound truck head-on just north of the Etterle Road intersection. After the crash, the violator vehicle caught on fire and became engulfed in flames.”
Emergency responders arrived at the scene, but all three occupants of the Mercury were pronounced dead by the Richmond County Coroner’s Office. The identities of the deceased will be confirmed following an autopsy by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab, which could take weeks.
Meanwhile, the mother of at least one of the teens has posted photos online, asking for prayers for her and her mental health.
Shakeila Scott said she can’t handle the pain.
“It’s unreal,” she said with a broken heart emoji. “This right here has broke me. Them boys was my biggest strength, my world. I really wanna crash out but I got two other kids that needs me. I’m asking all my friends and family to pray for me and my mental health right now please.”
On Facebook, the Augusta, Georgia Fire/EMA posted photos of the aftermath of the crash along with a report on their involvement:
“At 7:53 p.m. (Friday), firefighters were dispatched to a motor vehicle fire at the intersection of Deans Bridge Road and Etterlee Road. Engine 7 was the first to arrive on the scene, encountering a fully involved vehicle fire. A column of smoke was visible en route, and dispatch confirmed reports of individuals entrapped inside the vehicle.
The vehicle fire was quickly extinguished. Unfortunately, three individuals were found inside the vehicle. Firefighters spent several hours safely extricating the victims from the severely damaged car.
Other agencies that responded to the scene included the Coroner, Georgia State Patrol (GSP), Blythe Police Department, and Central EMS. The occupants of the other vehicle involved in the accident were treated at the scene by Central EMS but declined transport to the hospital.
The cause of the accident and fire is currently under investigation.“
(If you have a memory or photo of the three teens to share, please text it to 803-487-3224.)
VIDEO: Greek Festival returns downtown
The spring Greek Festival returns to downtown Augusta held this weekend.
Another downtown Augusta hotel is preparing to go vertical four years after the city approved the project.
Augusta has seen a spate of hotel construction and renovation recently. The former Sky City building on the 1100 block of Broad Street has been demolished to make way for an Embassy Suites. In November 2025, interior demolition began at the Ramada by Wyndham Augusta Downtown Hotel and Conference Center at 640 Broad St. to transform it into a distinctive Marriott property called The Conroy.
Now, subcontracting bids are being tendered to construct an extended-stay Residence Inn by Marriott at the corner of 13th and Walker streets. Plan holder Optum Construction of Gainesville, Ga., is accepting bids until 1 p.m. on May 13.
American Concrete successfully petitioned the city in 2022 for a zoning variance on the property to allow the hotel’s construction.
The land was sold in November 2022 to a limited-liability company associated with PeachState Hospitality. The Warner Robins-based company’s property portfolio includes the Residence Inn and the SpringHill Suites at 1110 and 1116 Marks Church Road, respectively, and the Fairfield Inn & Suites at 3023 1/2 Washington Road.
The 2-acre parcel of property shaped like a piece of pie was the former site of local business American Concrete, now on Wheeler Road.
The land had been an industrial site for much of the past century, as the longtime site of Perkins Lumber, then of paving contractor Southern Roadbuilders.
Now the property finds itself amid a downtown revitalization, including improved roads and riverside activities, such as a pedestrian bridge and a planned outdoor activity center featuring a zipline over the Savannah River. The future hotel would sit near downtown, the city’s bustling medical district, and a new entertainment complex taking the place of the former James Brown Arena.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – It will be something new for canal visitors to dig.
“This is a huge shot in the arm, it’s a most visited park by far and you couldn’t be more excited by the opportunity,” said Mayor Garnett Johnson.
The opportunity is this new canal trail that will connect the Village at Riverwatch to the canal trail by crossing over a new pedestrian bridge spanning the canal, leading visitors to even more amenities.
“It’s going to be great. We’re going to have fishing pods off the bridge, we’re going to have a kayak launch a nature walk through the wetlands at the clearing, we’re anticipating having musical groups there,” said Russ Gambill, Interim Canal Authority Director.
The improvements are funded in large part by a $3 million-dollar state DNR grant.
“We worked hard on it with Russ Gambill, with several, to make sure the Department of Natural Resources recognized the unique and regional draw of this and the connectivity it provides. We were excited to get the maximum amount,” said State Rep. Mark Newton.
Augusta must provide a 30 percent match. Those funds are part of the next special purpose sales tax on the May 19th ballot.
Work will take about a year and a half before canal visitors will be able to cross this bridge when they come to it.
“We already have two existing bridges that people use every day, but this one being so connected to one of our most visited shopping centers in the region, certainly will assist,” said Mayor Johnson.
It’s a major step for enhancing the canal.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public for assistance in locating a man who who has not been since Sunday.
Christopher Floyd, 31, was last seen May 3, 2026 on the 3500 block of Melody Drive. He was last seen wearing blue shorts and white t-shirt.
Officials say Floyd is possibly in possession of a 2007 Cadillac Escalade.
Anyone that comes in contact with Christopher Floyd or has any information as to his location is asked to contact RCSO at (706) 821-1080 or (706) 821-1020.
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