Deadly crash leads Thomasville family to push for road safety through campaign

THOMASVILLE, Ga. (WALB) - A Thomasville family is turning their tragedy into action after their loved one was killed in a single-vehicle accident caused by speeding.

“He loved people, and we are still struggling with the fact of losing him in such tragedy,” said Teresa Holland, Crumbly’s sister.

His family is encouraging residents to slow down after their loved one was killed in a traffic accident. They say they hope “Slow Down for Deezy” can help bring about change and raise awareness for traffic safety.

According to the police report, On Feb. 22, 2024, a Thomas County deputy attempted to stop a black vehicle for speeding on Georgia 300. The report says when Dantavia Crumbly, 33, tried to turn onto Georgia 38, he struck a curb, became airborne, overturned a few times and was ejected. He was later pronounced dead at the scene, according to a police report.

“He actually was just speeding. He was distracted, and he just, you know, hit the thing that divides the highway, he hit that in the road and caused the vehicle to flip,” Holland said.

Family members are remembering Crumbly for the person he was and are taking their pain and turning it into purpose to encourage people to slow down.

“He was a very loving person. He made me laugh and every time I would see him, I would say, ‘There goes my favorite cousin,” said Teresa Adams, Crumbly’s cousin.

“We want to say to the community, no matter how good of a driver you are, please slow those vehicles down because it’s important. It could be something in the road that can throw you off, you can easily be distracted, and just like that you can lose your life, just as my brother did,” Holland said.

It’s weather conditions like these where the road is wet, and motorists are commuting why his family is encouraging residents to slow down as their loved one was killed in a traffic accident.

“They need to slow these cars down like she said earlier these cars are not a game, they’re not toys, and they don’t need to be treated as such because somebody is waiting for you to come back home,” says Kavita Cochran, Crumbly’s sister-in-law. “You can look down, you can scratch your eye, and something can happen. It’s just important to pay attention and be aware while you’re driving.”

Holland says this campaign is close to her heart because she not only lost a brother to speeding but her son, Keldrick James, was also left paralyzed in 2017 when he was 17 because of speeding.

“Right now, my son says he doesn’t have much regret as he tells me, but he just wished that he could have done things differently,” Holland said. “So this means a lot to me and my family and friends that the community gets the big picture of it all.”

Now the family has created “Slow down for Deezy” to bring awareness for safe driving and following the rules of the road.

“Drinking and driving, texting and driving. We want them to understand it’s not just important to your life, but your family’s life and other people who are on the highway as well,” Holland said.

With a purchase of these signs, the family says the money will go towards educating Crumbly’s six kids and funding for the campaign to continue to shed light on the importance of driver safety.

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