Around 4:40 p.m. Sunday a Buick Lacrosse traveling north on Hwy. 293 through Kingston traveled off the east side of the roadway, struck a utility pole and came to an uncontrolled rest in the ditch on the east side of the roadway facing south. After striking the utility pole, the vehicle caught on fire. The driver, Ms. Amanda D. Herod was injured and transported to Floyd Medical Center in Rome. There was also a 17-month old child, Kyleigh Gregory, who was secured in a child seat. Neither the trooper, nor the hospital staff observed any visible signs of injury to the child. The investigating trooper believes that the driver was under the influence of drugs/medication at the time of the crash. Hwy. 293 in Kingston W. Howard Street at Coleman Street is was closed while Georgia Power crews made repairs. Kingston residents lost electricity for more than 3 hours.
