Beloved pastor from Macon killed in truck crash. Driver gets prison time
A commercial truck driver responsible for the death of a “beloved” pastor from Macon received six years in prison, prosecutors said Tuesday afternoon.
Arthur Waldrip pleaded guilty to first-degree vehicular homicide on Monday in Bibb County Superior Court, based on the events that led to the death of Clifford Scott on April 30, 2020. Waldrip, a truck driver with decades of experience, was distracted by adjusting his radio for approximately 20 seconds — with his eyes completely off the roadway — before colliding with Scott’s car, according to prosecutors with the Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office.
According to evidence presented in court, video footage of the incident showed “debris exploding from Mr. Scott’s vehicle as it was crushed by the impact of the multi-ton truck driven by Waldrip.”
A judge sentenced him to six years in prison, followed by nine years of probation, prosecutors said. The judge calculated that Waldrip had traveled “a distance greater than a football field with his eyes off the road,” emphasizing the dangers of distracted driving while operating commercial vehicles.
“In those 20 seconds of distracted driving, a life was lost,” said District Attorney Anita Howard. “This case serves as a somber reminder of the devastating consequences that can result from even momentary distracted driving.”
This story was originally published April 9, 2025 at 10:40 AM.
