Two Middle Georgia men killed in separate traffic collisions in Bibb County

Two separate traffic wrecks in Bibb County that resulted in the deaths of a 76-year-old Macon man and a 57-year-old man from Perry are under investigation by the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.

The first deadly crash occurred shortly after 4:20 p.m. Wednesday in the 3000 block of Millerfield Road in east Macon.

A man from Warner Robins driving a Dodge wrecker was traveling east on Millerfield Road when it crossed over the road’s center line and struck a Ford Econoline van traveling west. The collision sent the wrecker off the roadway and into a tree, while the van driver lost control and rolled onto its side.

The van was carrying two passengers: John Joseph Mims, 76 of Macon, was ejected during the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene. A second passenger, a 49-year-old woman was taken to a local hospital in critical condition.

The drivers were treated on the scene and then released. No other injuries have been reported in this collision and next of kin has been notified, according to Bibb County coroner Leon Jones.

Early morning wreck

The second deadly crash occurred just after 3 a.m. Thursday on the I-16 westbound ramp to I-75 northbound.

A 57-year-old male from Perry was driving a Yamaha motorcycle on the ramp between the two highways, which is currently a construction area.

While driving, he ran over a tarp that had been left in the roadway. The tarp became caught in the motorcycle’s rear tire, causing the driver to lose control and sending the vehicle into the guard rail.

The motorcycle driver was pronounced dead on the scene. As of this morning, next of kin has not yet been notified and his name has not been released.

No one else was injured in this collision.