BURKE COUNTY, Ga. — Authorities have released the identity of the man killed in a tragic crash on Highway 23 early Monday morning. The victim has been identified as 59-year-old Barton Andrew Weitzel of Waynesboro.
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According to the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called around 6:27 a.m. to the stretch of Highway 23 between Jack Delaigle Road and Hancock Landing Road after reports of a serious collision.
Preliminary findings show the crash began when a large deer suddenly entered the roadway and collided with Weitzel’s motorcycle as he traveled along the highway. The impact caused him to lose control and fall into the lane of travel.
Moments later, Weitzel was struck by a pickup truck heading in the same direction. Investigators identified the driver as 60-year-old Kirk Brigham of Girard, Georgia. Brigham was not injured and remained at the scene, cooperating fully with law enforcement.
Emergency responders arrived quickly but were unable to save Weitzel, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Burke County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Division is leading the investigation. Officials say the deer strike appears to have been the primary factor in the crash, adding that wildlife collisions remain a serious hazard on rural Georgia roads, particularly during early morning and evening hours when visibility is low.
Highway 23, lined with wooded areas, is one of several routes in Burke County where deer crossings are common. Deputies urge motorists — especially motorcyclists — to stay alert for animals on the roadway.
Weitzel, a longtime Waynesboro resident, is being remembered by friends and neighbors as a kind and steady presence in the community. His sudden passing has left loved ones mourning the loss of a man whose life ended in an unforeseeable tragedy.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not yet released information about potential contributing factors or toxicology results.