EVANS, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) — Officials say a traffic signal is needed at a Columbia County intersection where a retired Augusta-Richmond County Fire Rescue battalion chief was killed last week, after residents say they have spent years warning officials about the danger. Frank Lanier was riding his motorcycle west on Columbia Road on Monday, July 28, when a driver turning left from North Old Belair Road failed to yield and struck him, according to a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office crash report (Case #26-010851). The impact ejected Lanier from his motorcycle. The driver has since been charged with failure to yield while turning left and misdemeanor second-degree vehicle homicide. The crash occurred at the sole entry and exit point for the Crawford Creek community, a neighborhood of approximately 2,500 families and 1,100 homes situated between Columbia Road and Hereford Farm Road. Nate Dowd, who has lived in Crawford Creek for six years, said the area’s growth has made the intersection increasingly difficult to navigate. “Since we moved here it’s really exploded in population,” Dowd said. “Before the neighborhood built up, traffic wasn’t so bad and people could get out. It’s always been a 50-50 shot — especially if you’re trying to turn left from North Old Belair onto Columbia.” Funeral services have been announced for Master Deputy Jillian Olson, 29, who died Thursday following an underwater dive team training session at Lake Murray. Dowd said a sight-line problem at the…
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