OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Tragedy struck a small town in Georgia over the weekend, as the long-serving mayor and his wife were killed in a motor vehicle accident.
Reports quoting the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said that Albert and Camilla Pallone were killed on Saturday after a pickup truck swerved into their lane and struck their vehicle. The couple was driving an SUV, the department noted. Albert Pallone was serving as the mayor of Emerson, a small community of around 1,400 people in Bartow County, which is located northwest of Atlanta.
“On Saturday our community suffered a tremendous loss with the passing of Mayor Al Pallone and his beloved wife, Millie,” City Manager Kevin McBurnett wrote on the town’s Facebook page. “Al and Millie have been a staple of the Emerson community for over 40 years.
“Al and I began working together in 2008 at city hall. Al was a proven leader serving the citizens of Emerson as a city councilman for 23 years with the last 15 years as Mayor. Millie was always near providing him support, the framework to his strong leadership,” McBurnett noted further.
11Alive reported:
The sheriff’s office said the driver of a Chevrolet pickup truck, identified 50-year-old William Bryan Abernathy, of Calhoun, lost control and crossed the center line, striking a Hyundai Santa Fe traveling in the opposite direction.
The driver of the Hyundai, the 65-year-old mayor, Albert Pallone, and his wife, Camillia Pallone, 69, died at the scene.
“Marty, the girls, and I were heartbroken to learn of the tragic death of Mayor Al Pallone and his wife, Camillia, last night. They will be deeply missed by their loved ones and the community that they served so well. Please join us in praying for their family during this time,” newly reelected Gov. Brian Kemp (R) noted in a tweet after hearing about the couple’s deaths.
Marty, the girls, and I were heartbroken to learn of the tragic death of Mayor Al Pallone and his wife, Camillia, last night. They will be deeply missed by their loved ones and the community that they served so well.
Please join us in praying for their family during this time.
— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) December 11, 2022
Police said that when the Pallones’ SUV was struck by the pickup truck, it swerved out of control and overturned, and was subsequently hit by a GMC. The pickup also struck a Mazda, 11Alive reported.
“Abernathy was arrested and charged with DUI, reckless driving, first-degree vehicular homicide, and serious injury by vehicle. Abernathy was also injured and is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed local hospital,” the report continued, adding: “The driver of the Mazda 3 and the driver of the GMC Savanna were transported to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.”
Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) also shared a brief statement on Twitter after hearing the news.
“This is devastating news for the city of Emerson and our state,” the senator, who also just narrowly won reelection, tweeted. “I’m thinking of the families of Mayor Al Pallone, his wife Camillia, and the entire north Georgia community.”
This is devastating news for the city of Emerson and our state.
I’m thinking of the families of Mayor Al Pallone, his wife Camillia and the entire north Georgia community. https://t.co/X8yw7GKbv9
— Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (@SenatorWarnock) December 11, 2022
U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), whose 11th Congressional District includes the town of Emerson, also offered up his condolences.
“My family and co-workers are shocked and heartbroken by the tragic news that Emerson Mayor Al Pallone and his wife Millie were both killed in a car accident yesterday,” he wrote on Twitter. “Al was a good friend and a good man who served our community well for decades. He will be greatly missed. Our prayers are with his family.”
[2/2] Al was a good friend and a good man who served our community well for decades. He will be greatly missed. Our prayers are with his family.
— Rep. Barry Loudermilk (@RepLoudermilk) December 11, 2022
In August, U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) was also killed in a motor vehicle accident that police later determined to be the fault of the driver of her vehicle.
“Our investigation has determined that the cause of the crash was driving left of center with a contributing factor of excessive speed,” said an Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office press release. “The at-fault vehicle was the Toyota RAV4 driven by Zachery Potts.”
Fox News provided more details:
The 58-year-old congresswoman and two of her staffers, 27-year-old Potts and 28-year-old Emma Thomson, were killed last month after the car they were riding in collided with 56-year-old Edith Schmucker on an Indiana highway, killing Schmucker as well.
The final report explained that a witness recounted the Toyota RAV4 being driven by the 27-year-old Potts trailing a flatbed truck before slowing down in an apparent attempt to create space between the two cars.
