On Tuesday afternoon a vehicle mowed through the fence of the Science Learning Center, crashing into the wall and windows of the building.

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, pictures of the crash were widely circulated on social media, showing the car’s front end trapped between the building and a retaining wall, with the right rear wheel  in the air.

According to a University of Georgia police report, the driver is a UGA student who lost consciousness while driving in the McPhaul Center parking lot, causing the car to crash through the fence and go over the wall’s edge.

Witnesses told UGAPD the driver “appeared to be having a seizure and drove forward almost striking a pedestrian.” They also said he may have been convulsing even after the vehicle came to a halt.

According to the report, the student, who suffered “slight bruising around his nose,” said that a friend would pick him up and take him to the University Health Center.

The black 2016 Nissan Rogue was damaged with “a dented and broken front end, breaking of the driver side bumper and headlight as well as undercarriage damage consistent with scrapes from the retaining wall and fence,” the police report said.

The building’s exterior wall received paint transfer, fence damage, and “dislodgement and cracking of the retaining wall.” As the car was being removed, UGA facilities workers had to cut the fence, as it was caught on the undercarriage of the vehicle, the report said.

The vehicle was towed and taken to the Athens Paint and Body impound lot.

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​When it comes to fast food, the concept of “now” is evolving. With the popularity of instantaneous services, especially in the food and retail industry, food delivery services are sprouting up all across the country and this is also the case in Athens.

Beginning with Bulldawg Food, which caters mostly to students, and welcoming Uber Eats and Grubhub, the market for fast, convenient food delivery is certainly in high demand around Athens.

Waitr, a new restaurant on-demand platform, is making its debut in the Athens food community on June 21.

What makes Waitr unique from other delivery services is its no minimum order requirements or distance charge, as reported in The Red & Black.

According to a press release, Waitr is expected to grow quickly in Athens and is planning to hire 150 people in the area.

Waitr is currently hiring drivers in Athens through their website. Athens is the fifth city that Waitr has set up in throughout Georgia, in addition to Augusta, Macon, Columbus and Savannah.

Waitr is also available in other states including Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, and Texas.

Restaurants around town have come on board with Waitr services, including Akademia Brewing Company, Hendershots, Your Pie, Mellow Mushroom, Dawg Gone Good BBQ, Pouch Pies and Champy’s Famous Fried Chicken.

It is anticipated that more will join in the coming weeks, according to a press release.

The company will be hosting a launch party tomorrow at Mellow Mushroom on East Clayton Street at 8 p.m. The night will consist of a special Waitr trivia competition with a $200 first place prize. Other free prizes will be offered too.
 
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​On July 1, the new law focused on eradicating distracted driving will be enacted throughout the state of Georgia.

As reported in The Red & Black, on May 1, House Bill 673, or the “Hands-Free Georgia Act,” was signed by Gov. Nathan Deal to end distracted driving and encourage technology-free traveling through Georgia.

To avoid breaking the new law, it’s important to know that while driving you can't hold any wireless telecommunication device with any part of the body. You also cannot write, send, or read texting of any kind in the form of text message, instant message, email or internet data.

Also prohibited is watching a video or movie on a wireless telecommunication device, recording or broadcasting video footage as well as getting out of the seat or removing the seat belt to get your device.

You can, however, use earpieces, headphones, or Apple Watch to talk and use voice recognition (such as “Hey Siri” or “OK Google”) to text, email, and instant message as well as using Maps application and GPS, which includes entering location information while driving.

Drivers can also use one button to activate voice recognition and use devices such as: “radio, CB radio, CB radio hybrid, commercial two-way radio, subscription-based emergency communication device, prescribed medical device, amateur/ ham radio device, in-vehicle security and navigation, or remote diagnostics systems.

The penalties include the first offense being fines up to $50 and one point on license, second offense within two-year period with a fine up to $100 and two points on license and the third offense within two-year period as a fine up to $150 and three points on license.

After these offenses, your license could possibly be suspended.

This law doesn't apply when reporting a traffic incident, medical emergency, fire, crime or road condition that poses a hazard, to contractors of utility service providers responding to a utility emergency, to police, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel.

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Lyft, the on-demand transportation company, is set to donate $1 to Creature Comforts’ Get Comfortable campaign for every ride to or from the downtown Athens taproom for the remainder of the year.

“Taking Lyft rides to and from our tasting room will be an easy way for people to get involved with Get Comfortable and, paired with our desire for people to drink and travel responsibly, we thought Lyft was a perfect fit as a business partner in 2018,” Creature Comforts’ Director of Community and Culture Matt Stevens told The Red & Black.

Alex Daughtry, a sophomore from Macon who uses Lyft’s services, said she was happy the partnership would be helping a charitable cause.

“You always want to do something that helps more people,” Daughtry said. “Especially when you know the money is going towards a cool cause.”

The Get Comfortable Campaign benefits the Athens community “live comfortably,” the business’ website said. Hunger, homelessness and poverty are three main focus areas the campaign hopes to assist with within the community.

“The mission of the Get Comfortable campaign is to become a unifying anchor in the business community to help resource the nonprofits who address our community's most pressing needs,” Stevens said.

Launched in 2014, the campaign raised about $200,000 for local nonprofits last year, Stevens said. This year, six organizations were chosen as partners to benefit from the campaign’s initiatives: Advantage Behavioral Health, Athens Area Homeless Shelter, Athens Community Council on Aging, The Ark, Chosen For Life, & Mercy Health Center.

Sam Bond, the general manager for Lyft southeast, said in a press release that the partnership is just one way Lyft can help those in need in “one of Georgia’s favorite cities.”

“Anyone who’s ever gotten their hands on a Tropicália knows that Creature Comforts makes amazing beer, but they’re also doing a lot of important work for their home city,” Bond said in the press release.
Lyft’s ridesharing rates will not be affected.

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