The city of Augusta, Riverwatch Parkway turned tragic after a fatal crash claimed the lives of 23-year-old Devon Briggs of Buena Vista, Georgia, and 22-year-old Evelyn Plakal of Elgin, South Carolina. The wreck happened along Riverwatch Parkway near Goodrich Street, close to mile marker 2 and within sight of the historic Confederate Power Works chimney.
According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the Richmond County Coroner’s Office, deputies responded to a serious crash scene on Monday evening after emergency calls came in around 6 p.m. What they found was a devastating situation involving a single vehicle and two young lives already lost.
Investigators say the crash itself likely happened earlier, on April 18. Reports indicate the vehicle was moving westbound on Riverwatch Parkway at a high rate of speed when it approached a curve. The driver then lost control, sending the car off the north shoulder of the road.
From there, the vehicle struck a guardrail and continued down an embankment toward Goodrich Street before overturning. The impact was severe enough to cause fatal consequences almost instantly.
Authorities confirmed that Devon Briggs, who was driving, was ejected from the vehicle during the crash. Evelyn Plakal was located inside the overturned car when responders arrived at the scene.
Despite emergency efforts, both were pronounced dead at the scene at 5:56 p.m. Their deaths marked a sudden and painful end to two young lives full of potential.
Family members and friends are now left dealing with shock and heartbreak, trying to process how quickly everything changed in a matter of seconds. The loss has deeply affected both communities tied to Devon and Evelyn.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the exact cause of the crash as loved ones hold onto memories of the two victims and search for answers
