Athens-Clarke Police: Speed a Factor in Fatal Wreck

A Watkinsville man was killed after he apparently lost control of his vehicle in a fiery wreck Monday night on South Milledge Avenue, police said.

Athens-Clarke County police said Lucas Gibson, 35, died after his Ford F-150 sideswiped another vehicle while passing it at the Davis Street intersection around 11:20 p.m.

“It appears that the Gibson vehicle was traveling at an excessive rate of speed and he lost control of his vehicle and it left the roadway.” Police said in a news release. “After striking the curb and a bus stop sign, the vehicle caught fire.”

Police said bystanders tried to pull Gibson from the burning vehicle, but were unsuccessful.