Georgia has 13 deaths in New Year's travel, including two in Twiggs County

Thirteen people lost their lives on Georgia roadways during the 2015 New Year's holiday travel period, including two passengers in a single-car accident over the weekend in Twiggs County.

That's the same number of deaths in the state during the New Year's holiday travel period from a year ago, according to the state's Department of Public Safety.

Brandy Pratt, 34, and Jamie Smith, 39, both of Pooler, both died from injuries sustained in a 7:04 p.m. crash Saturday at mile marker 10 in Twiggs County, said Georgia State Patrol trooper Chad Harrison.

Pratt was pronounced dead on the scene, while Smith was pronounced dead at the Medical Center, Navicent Health, Harrison said.

Driver Shannon Gunn, 38, of Macon, was taken to the Medical Center with severe injuries, Harrison said. She remained hospitalized Monday in the surgical trauma intensive care unit.

Gunn was driving west when her car left the roadway and struck a tree, Harrison said. Gunn and Smith, who were not wearing seat belts, were ejected from a 2005 Lexus ES 333, Harrison said. Pratt was wearing a safety belt.

The crash remains under investigation.

The New Year's holiday travel period lasts from 6 p.m. New Year's Eve to midnight the following Sunday. The 2015 travel period covered 78 hours, compared to 102 hours during the 2014 travel period.

During this past New Year's period, the GSP investigated nine of the fatalities, and four deaths were handled by local agencies. The GSP also investigated 364 other crashes that resulted in 180 injuries statewide. Troopers made 321 drunken driving arrests.

For comparison, the GSP investigated 10 of the 13 fatalities over the 2014 New Year's holiday reporting period. The other fatalities were handled by local agencies. Troopers also investigated 771 other crashes statewide that resulted in 299 injuries. Troopers also made 349 arrests for drunken driving during the holiday travel period.

To contact writer Becky Purser, call 256-9559, or find her on Twitter@becpurser.

This story was originally published January 4, 2016 at 5:27 PM with the headline "Georgia has 13 deaths in New Year's travel, including two in Twiggs County ."