‘Nobody deserves to pass like this’: Family and friends react to deadly APD crash

ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - There are now new elements to the deadly crash involving an Albany Police Department (APD) cruiser.

We are now hearing from the family members of the pedestrian struck and killed in that accident and we are hearing from survivors who were on the Crisp County school bus.

Georgia State Patrol (GSP) is currently reviewing the findings from a reconstruction that happened on 7th Avenue and North Jefferson Street. Now, according to investigators, the purpose of this reconstruction is to find out what happened with this crash and to see if there with be a prosecution involved.

“We compile everybody’s crash reports, weather reports, the coroner reports, different things - the vehicle inspection that we do. When we get done with our findings, it will be turned over to Chief Persely and the District Attorney’s office,” said Cpl. William Cope, GSP Specialized Collision and Reconstruction Investigator.

According to the report, an APD cruiser hit a Crisp County school bus, causing the bus to strike and kill 67-year-old Robert Skaggs.

Skaggs’ niece, Michele Frazee, says her uncle lived in Albany all his life and wants the public to remember him for his kind and gentle spirit.

“He literally just was standing on the corner, waiting to cross the street. I hope that everybody’s okay and I hope that they recover back to their full lives. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for my uncle, he was so young, he was only 67 years old, and regardless of right time wrong place whatever you want to say, nobody deserves to pass like this, nobody deserves this,” said Frazee.

After speaking with some of the students and the coach who were on the bus at the time of the crash, they all are sending their love to Ms. Mary, the bus driver, the officers involved, and to the family of Mr. Skaggs who was tragically killed.

“Everybody deserves a second chance, but not everybody has a second chance to get. A guy died who wasn’t supposed to die. Two police officers were severely injured. A bus driver was injured because she doing something that she loved to help us out as a community,” said Jamarkus Walker, Track and Field athlete on the bus.

“The only support that we have had through this is each other. The other parents, the coach, the superintendent from the school, the athletic director, the counselor from the schools have been checking on these kids but Albany PD has not yet checked on us,” said Lateaco Powell, mother of athlete on the bus.

The family of Mr. Skaggs is sending WALB an update as they do want the community to remember him for who he was and not how he died.

Previous coverage:

• Albany intersection to briefly close for crash investigation
• UPDATE: APD officer released from hospital following deadly bus crash

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