Georgia man killed in I-65 accident
Published 12:00 am Thursday, July 6, 2006
A Georgia man was killed in a one-vehicle accident five miles south of Georgiana on Interstate 65 on Sunday morning, according to the Alabama Department of Public Safety.
Troopers said Patrick Blankin, 20, the driver of a Nissan 350Z, was killed at approximately 5:45 a.m. Sunday. His passenger, Terrelle Carter, 21, of New Orleans, La., was injured and transported to Baptist South Hospital in Montgomery.
Blankin hailed from Stone Mountain, Ga.
On Saturday afternoon, a Loxley woman died in another one-vehicle accident on US 84, two miles east of Mexia in Monroe County. Augustina Kuilava, 20, was the driver of a 1995 GMC truck, and died in the crash. Her passenger, Bernardio Pancheoc, 29, also of Loxley, was injured and transported to the University of South Alabama's medical center.
The Department of Public Safety estimated that 20 people could die in traffic crashes in Alabama during the 102-hour Independence Day period, which began at 6 p.m. Friday, June 30, and will end at midnight Tuesday, July 4. Last year there were 16 fatalities during the 78-hour Fourth of July period.
Ten of the crash victims were not using safety belts, and at least six of the traffic deaths were alcohol related.