< I just knew I had to get away from it. >
An escape just in time...a truck driver acts quickly to get out... as his truck catches fire in Peach County....
Hello everyone.
I'm Frank Malloy.
And I'm Leah Johnson.
We'll get back to that story in just a moment....
But first.. A tornado watch.. lingering over parts of Central Georgia.
For the very latest... Let's check in with chief meteorologist Ben Jones.
Thanks Ben. We'll talk to you again a little later in this newscast.
A truck driver says he's lucky to be alive after making it out before his concrete truck was destroyed by fire.
Tom George went to Peach County to talk with that driver James Foster... To get his story.
For this trucker ... It started as a routine trip...
< I had just left Reynolds, my home terminal going to North Carolina... >
But his run carrying concrete stopped early on Highway 49 when he heard a noise...
< I was driving, and I heard a loud boom ... >
That's when he decided he needed to pull over...
< I just figured I had a busted airline, but as soon as I got the truck stopped smoke started boiling out from under there and one of those other truck drivers said that he saw a small fire under the cab >
So he tried to get out on the driver's side...
< I couldn't get out because the flames were too high, there were flames coming out the air conditioner vents before I got out of it.>
< He says he was able to hurry up and get out of the passenger within a just a few seconds, but if he'd waited just a few minutes longer. This is all that was left of the entire front cabin.>
Luckily, he was able to far away enough to stay safe, and even snap some photos ...officials arrived soon after and began clearing the scene, which blocked traffic northbound between Fort Valley and Byron for about an hour...
< After I got out and after they got the fire out I was shook up some but I'm feeling a little better now.>
No one knew exactly what caused the fire ... And since the driver was safe, they won't need to investigate ... Just move on... And count their blessings.
< I'm just glad to be alive ... Thank the Good Lord.>
In Peach County, Tom George, 13WMAZ Eyewitness News.
The money will be allocated to 33 organizations and 52 programs.
United Way starts its 2013 annual campaign in September.
Macon's Cherry blossom festivities scheduled to take place on third street,
were forced to move indoors this morning due to the weather.
If you missed out don't worry.....
Videojournalist Wes Blankenship was there to capture the treats on camera
<unfortunately today we had a chance for rain, and when mother nature speaks we listen. I'm glad you're all here.>
<it gives us an opportunity to give back to the community>
<i like the free stuff>
<free. That's right. It's a blessing.>
<i think it means something so fanciful that you can just forget about some of the problems and just deal with today. >
Sweet giveaways, like today's are scheduled to go on through thursday.
The party will move back outdoors for the rest of the week, weather permitting of course
A new dean... with some Georgia history... has been selected to head the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia.
Charles N. Davis earned a doctorate in mass communication from the University of Florida and a master's degree in journalism from the University of Georgia. As an undergraduate, Davis studied criminology at North Georgia College.
School Provost Jere Morehead made the official announcement today.
The appointment will be effective July 1.
` As we take a turn for sports tonight... We've got a question for you in our 13WMAZ Web Poll.
Will you build a bracket for NC-double-A March madness?
Only 13 percent of you saying yes...
54 percent said no.
33 percent asking... What's a bracket?
Still time for you to vote though.
Log on to 13WMAZ-dot-com..and look for the webpoll....on the right side of the home page.