News Summary
Two recent incidents on Mike Padgett Highway have resulted in three fatalities, igniting concerns about road safety in the Augusta area. The latest tragedy involved a single-vehicle accident that claimed the life of 47-year-old David Stringfield. Earlier this month, another crash resulted in the death of U.S. Army veteran Andrew Pregel IV after a collision with 19-year-old Lauren Fortner, who was charged with multiple offenses. Local authorities continue to investigate these incidents and are exploring measures to enhance road safety amid growing community apprehension.
Augusta, Georgia – Two separate incidents along Mike Padgett Highway have resulted in three fatalities and raised concerns about road safety in the area. The latest tragic event occurred on Thursday evening, resulting in the death of 47-year-old David Stringfield from Augusta. He was the sole occupant of a vehicle involved in the accident, which took place at the Burke County line and was reported by the Richmond County Coroner’s Office, stating Stringfield was pronounced dead at 7:59 p.m.
Emergency responders called for a life flight following the accident; however, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office later canceled this request. The highway remained closed while the incident was under investigation, and drivers were advised to seek alternate routes around 7:20 p.m. Traffic flow resumed in all directions around 9 p.m., with the scene cleared by 10 p.m.
In a related incident earlier this month, on May 7, 2025, 19-year-old Lauren Fortner was charged with homicide by vehicle and failure to maintain lane following a head-on collision that claimed the life of 58-year-old Andrew Pregel IV, also from Augusta. Pregel, a U.S. Army veteran employed at Plant Vogtle, passed away at the scene while returning home after completing a night shift. Reports indicated that Fortner may have been fatigued after working a 12-hour shift at the time of the accident. Her collision with Pregel’s vehicle caused severe damage, leading to his untimely death.
Lauren Fortner suffered injuries in the wreck and was subsequently treated at Wellstar MCG Hospital. Pregel’s wife, Laura Rice, expressed her condolences to Fortner, notably voicing her wish for compassion rather than punishment for the young driver.
The Mike Padgett Highway was further marred by another deadly accident on a recent Saturday morning. In this crash, two drivers, Anibal Rosa, 39, of Dallas, Georgia, and James Machino, 41, of Waynesboro, Georgia, lost their lives when Machino’s vehicle crossed the center lane and collided head-on with Rosa’s vehicle. The Richmond County Fire Department had to extricate both drivers from their vehicles before they were pronounced dead at 3:30 a.m.
These incidents have generated significant concern within the community regarding road safety, particularly on Mike Padgett Highway. Local authorities continue to conduct investigations to determine the specific causes of these tragic accidents and explore measures that could enhance safety for drivers in the region. The repeated fatalities along the highway underline the urgent need for increased awareness and possibly better infrastructure or traffic regulations to ensure the safety of all road users.
The Richmond County community is grappling with the aftermath of these events and reflecting on the impact of losing lives on the road. As investigations progress, residents are being urged to take extra precautions while driving and to remain vigilant, especially during late hours or when fatigue could impair driving abilities.
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Additional Resources
- WJBF: Crash Shuts Down Lanes of Traffic on Mike Padgett Highway
- Wikipedia: Mike Padgett Highway
- WRDW: Scene of Deadly Traffic Accident on Mike Padgett Highway
- Google Search: Mike Padgett Highway Traffic Accidents
- Augusta Press: Augusta Teen Charged After Swerving Into Lane, Killing Plant Vogtle Worker
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Traffic Safety
Author: STAFF HERE AUGUSTA WRITER
AUGUSTA STAFF WRITER The AUGUSTA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREAugusta.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Augusta, Richmond County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Arts in the Heart Festival, Westobou Festival, and Masters Week. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce and Greater Augusta Arts Council, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and healthcare that power the local economy such as Textron Specialized Vehicles, Cardinal Health, and Nutrien. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAtlanta.com and HERESavannah.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Georgia's dynamic landscape.
