Macon child among nine traffic deaths in Georgia over Christmas holiday travel period

Nine people died from injuries sustained in Georgia crashes during the 2015 Christmas holiday travel period, including a child ejected in a Byron crash.

The Georgia Department of Public Safety's holiday reporting period was from 6 p.m. Christmas Eve to midnight Sunday.

LaKevia "Tootie" LaShay George, 11, of Macon, died from head trauma at 1:19 p.m. Sunday following a one-vehicle crash on Interstate 75 on Christmas night, said Peach County Coroner Kerry Rooks. The crash was just north of Exit 149 in Byron.

In 2014, 14 fatalities were reported during the Christmas holiday reporting period.

Also, the state's New Year holiday travel period started at 6 p.m. New Year's Eve and ends at midnight Sunday. Traffic crashes over the 2014 New Year's holiday travel period resulted in 13 traffic deaths in Georgia.

Information from Telegraph archives was used in this report. To contact writer Becky Purser, call 256-9559, or find her on Twitter@becpurser.

This story was originally published December 31, 2015 at 5:32 PM with the headline "Macon child among nine traffic deaths in Georgia over Christmas holiday travel period ."