1 dead after driver ‘lost control’ on Macon highway, GSP says. How it happened

A driver died after he “lost control” of his car in Macon Friday night, according to Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones.

A 2003 Lexus LS430 reportedly flipped several times, a witness told Georgia State Patrol, according to a crash report.

It happened around 10:30 p.m. on Interstate 75 Southbound near mile marker 161, between Eisenhower Parkway and Rocky Creek Road, Jones and GSP said.

A 911 caller who witnessed the crash told state troopers the Lexus left the road “for no apparent reason” toward a right-hand emergency lane, skidded on a guardrail for over 60 feet then flipped “several times,” a crash report said.

It landed upside down, according to state troopers who arrived at 10:40 p.m.

The driver was either speeding, distracted or impaired, but the witness told troopers the Lexus didn’t appear to be speeding, according to a crash report.

Emergency medical services from Atrium Health Navicent hospital were notified at 10:38 p.m., and arrived four minutes later, according to GSP. Fire responders extracted the driver from the vehicle, who was “trapped” inside, troopers said.

The driver was identified as Joseph Fulton Portis, a 24-year-old Macon man.

Deputy Coroner Ronnie Miley pronounced Portis dead at the scene at 11:25 p.m., according to GSP and Jones. Portis’ family, who lives in California, was notified of his death by Saturday afternoon.

His body was taken from the scene by Daniels Removal and Transport for funeral preparations, a crash report said. The vehicle was towed away by M&M Towing & Recovery.

“It was a sad case...,” Jones said. “It was a hell of a wreck.”

State troopers were still investigating the crash Monday afternoon.

This story was originally published July 28, 2025 at 9:29 AM.