Athens man killed in fiery Christmas Day crash

(Jonathan Burden)

By Joe Johnson

A 36-year-old Athens man was killed Christmas morning when his car crashed and burst into flames at an eastside intersection.

Police are withholding the victim’s name pending positive identification by his next of kin.

The incident happened shortly before 6 a.m. at the intersection of Barnett Shoals and Gaines School roads.

According to police, the car had sped into the intersection and struck a tree in the parking lot of Synovus Bank, where the vehicle became engulfed in flames.