An Eatonton man was found unresponsive in his vehicle in Milledgeville last week and authorities believe he died from some sort of medical episode, according to Milledgeville Police Department reports.
Willie L. Andrews, 55, of Chase Circle, was pronounced dead by an emergency department doctor at Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin Hospital shortly after 10 a.m. Thursday, April 11.
About an hour earlier, Andrews’ Apple iPhone automatically dialed 911 due to an impact, according to MPD Maj. Linc Boyer. When responding officers arrived, they saw Andrews’ 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe down a ravine about 25 yards off the roadway at the intersection of North Columbia Street and Pearl Drive. Andrews, the only occupant of the vehicle, was still seat belted in the driver’s seat. MPD Sgt. Tommy Puerto pulled him out of the SUV and began CPR. His lifesaving efforts were taken over by Milledgeville Fire Rescue First Responders and then EMTs when they arrived to take Andrews by ambulance to the hospital.
Andrews had been traveling northbound on North Columbia Street, when authorities believe he lost consciousness due to a possible medical episode. His Tahoe traveled across the center lines and opposite lanes and then off the other side of the road, down the ravine and crashed near a wooded area.
Andrews worked at the Eatonton U.S. Postal Service office, Boyer said, but he was not carrying any mail at that time.
“I called him ‘Franchise’ because of how valuable he was to us younger guys growing up with him,” a grieving friend, Wesley Farley, posted on Facebook. “But the community knows him as Willie Andrews, a respectful guy becoming the man he will be forever known as. R.I.P. Love ya, big guy. I cherish the moments.”