Turpin
A Clayton woman was charged by Rabun County Sheriff’s Office deputies after she was found walking in the west-bound lane of a busy Highway 76 after the female, wearing only underwear rode on the hood of a pickup.
Sherry Sue Turpin, 37, was arrested for pedestrian under the influence of alcohol or drugs at approximately 6 p.m. on June 29 as traffic in both directions near Highway 76 Loop was stopped to take the suspect into custody.
Witnesses reported they saw Turpin on the hood of a Georgia Power pickup as the truck continued heading west on the roadway. The driver of the pickup was able to slow down on the curvy mountain road for the safety of the unexpected female passenger who had gotten onto the hood of the moving vehicle.
When the siren sound of a deputy’s patrol car neared the incident scene, Turpin reportedly climbed off the now-stopped pickup using the grill and front bumper. She then momentarily ran into the nearby ditch only to return a few seconds later to walking in the west-bound lane.
After a discussion with deputies in which Turpin told authorities she knew her constitutional rights, the suspect was apprehended uninjured.
Authorities then assisted in helping motorists in both directions resume their travels.
That portion of Highway 76 does not have sidewalks and has narrow edges next to ditches and roadside drop-offs.