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Limo driver killed in I-85 crash never sped, says colleague


By JEFFRY SCOTT
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 04/04/08

Mark Anthony Gay arrived home for the last time this week in the Southeast Georgia town of Cuthbert as friends and family prepared for his funeral Saturday.

Gay, 44, was driving the Ford Excursion limousine that went out of control Monday and flipped on I-85 near Norcross, killing him and three passengers.

Vincent Washington, a limo driver who worked six years with Gay's East Point-based company, Destiny Limousines Inc., on Friday praised Gay's character and driving skills.

"He was the most careful driver I have ever known," Washington said. "If anything he was too careful, he drove too slow. You had a hard time getting him to drive 65 miles a hour. He was always conscious of the safety of his passengers. He wasn't going to speed up just because you were 15 minutes late."

Gay was raised by his grandmother in Cuthbert. Gay's sister, Charlene Richardson of Shellman, remembered her brother Friday as "kind, caring and generous."

She said the family is establishing a memorial college fund at a bank for his 15-year-old son, Brandon M. Gay, who recently moved from Chicago to live with his father in Lawrenceville.

Gay was a widower whose wife died five years ago.

Gay had a fleet of three limousines, said friends, having recently added a Hummer and GMC Yukon Denali. Another driver and friend, Danny Person, said Friday he and Washington were doing what they could to "fulfill the obligation" of Gay's business so that his memory is "represented with honor."

Chad Daniell, operations supervisor at Hawker Beechcraft, which manages corporate planes at Fulton County Airport, said his company had used Gay's limousine service for about three years.

"He was the consummate professional," Daniell said. "A lot of the pilots here thought very highly of him. They have helped contribute to the memorial fund for his son."

One person injured in the wreck is still hospitalized. Demetrius Randle, 45, of Lawrenceville is in critical condition at Gwinnett Medical Center.

Killed in the wreck were Demetrius Randle's son, Alexander Randle, 14; his daughter, Whitney Randle, 21; and grandson, Kayden Alexander Randle-Finley, 13 months old.

Police said the wreck happened when a speeding Acura clipped Gay's SUV. The driver of that car, Cody Rhoden, 20, of Gainesville has been charged with vehicular homicide and other offenses.

The funeral service for Mark Anthony Gay is at 2 p.m. Saturday at Antioch Baptist Church on East Church Street, in Cuthbert. A memorial service will be held later at Hopewell Baptist Church in Norcross, which Gay attended.

Funeral services have not been scheduled for the Randle family.

Sad story. May he Rest In Peace

This breaks our hearts.Please let us know how we can help.Do you have any info for donations to help the families.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Elegant Limousines of Palm Coast,

Sorry to hear the news... best wishes to Mark on his transition and condolences to hs family.

This is horrible, to think of a 13 month old getting killed like this, not to mention everyone else. It is also very scary to think that even when driving one of the beastliest stretches around you can be taken out by an Acura, I hope they fry the driver.

Hard Story to read! My best wishes to the Families, owner and passengers of the accident.


David Hartson