Warner Robins cops say they made a mistake: Man in Wednesday-morning wreck did not die
A 71-year-old Warner Robins man first thought to have died Wednesday after his Nissan SUV wheeled into the path of an oncoming pickup truck on Watson Boulevard has not died, police said.
Police Chief John Wagner, in a statement sent to news outlets in the hours immediately after the wreck, said the Nissan’s driver, Michael Brown, had died at a Macon hospital of injuries sustained in the 7:25 a.m. crash.
But that wasn’t the case, Wagner said in a 2 p.m. statement correcting the earlier information: “We are happy to advise that Mr. Michael Brown was NOT a fatality in the accident earlier this morning. Mr. Brown did sustain serious injuries and is in very critical condition ... but thanks to the life-saving measures of medical personnel and expertise of the facility, he has survived.”
Wagner went on to add that police at the crash scene near a Huddle House at the intersection of Austin Avenue had been told Brown “was deceased and our preliminary information was inaccurate.”
The chief said, “We are extremely sorry for the misinformation and for any distress we caused upon any family or friend of Mr. Brown. Our continued prayers for his recovery.”
The crash happened when Brown, driving a 2011 Nissan Rogue, was apparently pulling into the restaurant about three-quarters of a mile east of Carl Vinson Parkway, Wagner told The Telegraph.
Brown, heading west on Watson, was said to have pulled into the path of an eastbound 2004 Chevy Silverado as he turned left toward the eatery.
The driver of the pickup, Elbert Horne, 71, of Warner Robins, and a passenger in his truck suffered what were described as “minor injuries.”
This story was originally published December 16, 2020 at 10:44 AM.