Georgia law enforcement keep busy on Memorial Day holiday weekend

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Law enforcement served up safety this Memorial Day weekend, from the waters to the roads.

“Safety first, we try to be as safe as possible,” said Shafer Harrington, who visited Lake Allatoona over the Memorial Day weekend.

The Georgia Department of Public Safety said they have seen a “noticeable increase” in driving under the influence (DUI) arrests and distracted driving violations. The department counted 11 car travel related deaths as of Monday evening, including the three young rising adults with ties to Metro Atlanta and who went to Stillman College in Alabama.

Officials said the single-car fatal crash happened Saturday on I-75 Southbound in Clayton County near the exit ramp for Tara Boulevard.

3 from Alabama college with ties to metro Atlanta killed in crash

Officials said their preliminary investigation indicates that the vehicle veered out of its lane and went into a nearby ditch. Shortly after the crash, the vehicle became fully engulfed in flames, said officials.

Officials said the occupants of the vehicle were unable to escape and died at the scene.

At Lake Allatoona, the Department of Natural Resources arrested a man for boating under the influence, or BUI. The DNR says the man returned to Harbor Town Marina following strong thunderstorms, struck the dock and another vessel.

According to the DNR, The officers interviewed the man and determined that he was under the influence. The DNR said officers arrested the man for BUI and transported him to the Cherokee County Jail.

“It can be frightening, it can be frightening,” said Eric Coleman, who has been coming to Allatoona for the past two decades.

“A lot of them don’t know the seriousness of handling the boat and drinking,” added Coleman.

Coleman said he has been coming to Allatoona to teach the community about water safety, especially during holidays and high occupancy at the lake.

Coleman said he has a boating group with friends, called Over The Top Motor Sports, who have water vessels to allow people to use one of the many jet skis or boats.

Coleman said they have one very important rule for people using the water equipment, “they know that when they start drinking they are done with the water, they are not on the water at all anymore,” said Coleman.

The DNR said they have had four BUI arrest so far this year, at Lake Allatoona. That statistic is not sitting well for some lake goers.

“It sucks, it sucks honestly. They are drunk and doing thing when they shouldn’t be doing it, I wish it gets better,” said Hailly Alameida, who visited Lake Allatoona for the holiday weekend.

Copyright 2025 WANF. All rights reserved.