Macon is reeling after a 36-year-old man, Eric Wilburn, died Friday night after being struck by a vehicle while walking on Jeffersonville Road. The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office says the crash happened just after 9 p.m. near the intersection with Purnell Drive, and Wilburn was pronounced dead at the scene.
Friends and neighbors said Wilburn, known around the community for his warm smile and kind spirit, was simply walking along the side of the road when his life was cut short. He wasn’t in a crosswalk, and the darkness of the night made the stretch of Jeffersonville Road especially unforgiving for anyone on foot. This grief has rippled through the neighborhood, where folks are still trying to make sense of the sudden loss.
Deputies say the driver, 39-year-old Daniel Hicks, stayed at the scene and was the one who called 911 after the crash. According to authorities, Hicks was taken into custody at the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center and charged with DUI, open container violation, no insurance, and driving with a suspended license.
Coroner Ronnie Miley notified Wilburn’s family of the tragedy that night. Loved ones gathered in quiet shock, some holding back tears as they remembered Wilburn not just as a victim of a crash, but as a brother, friend, and father figure to many in Macon. People have been stopping by the site where he died, leaving flowers and candles, trying to turn a stretch of pavement back into a place of memory and love.
This stretch of Jeffersonville Road has long been a concern for residents who say the lack of sidewalks and poor lighting make it dangerous for pedestrians after dark. Some neighbors spoke up after the crash, saying this is not the first time someone has been nearly hit in that area. Drivers are often speeding, and walkers have no safe space to be seen.
Deputies are still investigating the collision, and officials are urging anyone with more information to reach out to the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at (478) 751-7500. The community wants answers not just about what happened that night, but how something like this can be prevented in the future.
As the city mourns, friends and family are planning a memorial for Wilburn in the coming days. They hope his story — and the sorrow it has brought — will spur greater awareness about pedestrian safety in Macon, especially on busy roads where walkers are all too often left vulnerable.
