Bibb coroner offers free rides for New Year's Eve partiers

Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones will be a busy man New Year's Eve.

By Wednesday afternoon, more than two dozen people already signed up for free rides to and from Thursday night's celebrations.

Two years ago, Jones began a free shuttle service for those needing a ride home from New Year's Eve celebrations within the county.

This year, he is offering to take revelers to celebrations and come back and pick them up when they are ready to go home.

"I believe elected officials ought to give back to the community," Jones said. "I try to stay connected even on non-election years."

Although he initially planned to make himself available between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m., he expanded his hours to accommodate a party of 30 people Thursday evening and will stay on the road later, if necessary.

"I'm paying for it out of my own pocket. No tax dollars," said Jones, who rented a 15-passenger van.

In 2013 and 2014, Jones carried more than 50 people home in nearly 30 trips across Bibb County into the early morning hours of Jan. 1.

Over the past 12 months, Jones' office has responded to nearly 30 homicides and multiple traffic fatalities.

"We're the ones that rings that doorbell at 3 o'clock in the morning. You see us at 3 o'clock in the morning, it's bad news," he said.

In recent weeks, he was greatly disturbed by the killing of 14-year-old Ta'Shuntis "Tootie" Roberts, who was hit by gunfire while inside her home Dec. 13, and the accidental death of Stratford Academy graduate Murray Ashley Nixon, who was crushed by a vehicle three days before Christmas.

"One thing about being coroner, it's like EMS, you can't pick and choose. It's all or nothing," he said

Jones said he will not turn anyone away, but some people may have to wait during peak times.

"That's my goal, to keep you out of the hospital, keep you out of the jail and keep you out of the body bag," he said.

He has stocked up on supplies in case riders get sick, as in years past.

Those needing a lift should call Jones' cell phone at 478-256-6716.

This story was originally published December 30, 2015 at 4:58 PM with the headline "Bibb coroner offers free rides for New Year's Eve partiers ."