Man receives 10 years in prison for drunk driving accident that killed Emerson mayor and wife

CHEROKEE COUNTY, Georgia. – A Calhoun man will spend 10 years in prison for a car crash that killed the mayor of Emerson, Georgia, and his wife.

William Bryan Abernathy, 52, pleaded guilty in court this week to six counts of voluntary manslaughter with a vehicle, six counts of aggravated assault with a vehicle, reckless driving and two counts of driving under the influence.

According to officials, Abernathy was drunk on December 10, 2022, when he lost control of his truck while driving at high speeds on Knox Bridge Highway and eventually collided with a 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe driven by Emerson Mayor Albert Pallone.

The force of the impact caused the Santa Fe to spin and roll over. It was then struck by a GMC van. Abernathy’s truck then crashed into a Mazda 3.

William Bryan Abernathy (Cherokee County District Attorney)

Abernathy told officers he had not been drinking alcohol and could “not remember anything,” but later admitted to having “a couple of beers,” officers said. Witnesses reported seeing Abernathy’s truck “flying” on the two-lane highway before the crash, zigzagging and attempting to pass cars on the shoulder. A later test showed Abernathy’s blood-alcohol level was 0.249 – more than three times the legal limit.

MORE: “He loved this town”: Emerson community devastated by sudden loss of mayor and his wife in drunk driving accident

Pallone, 65, and his wife. 69-year-old Camilla Pallone died at the scene of the accident from blunt force trauma. The other two drivers suffered serious injuries but fortunately survived.

“This tragedy could have easily been avoided had the defendant made the responsible decision not to drive his vehicle that day. There is no reason to put lives in danger by driving under the influence,” said District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway. “We hope the verdict provides some closure to those injured and to the families and friends who lost loved ones.”

After his guilty plea, a judge sentenced Abernathy to 30 years in prison, with the first 10 years to be served in custody, as well as requiring him to undergo treatment for his substance abuse, perform 120 hours of community service and impose other penalties.

Community mourns death of Emerson mayor

After the accident, flags flew at half-mast outside the government buildings of the City of Emerson, where Pallone served his community for nearly 40 years. Pallone served as a council member for 23 years before being elected mayor. In addition to the festive Christmas lights surrounding the buildings,

“It’s just tragic … just tragic,” Mayor Vincent Wiley told FOX 5 in 2022. “To my family, they were like family, personally, so it’s (really) tough right now.”

The mayor and his wife had three adult children and five grandchildren.

Albert and Camilla Pallone (District Attorney of Cherokee County)

When news of the couple’s deaths broke, Governor Brian Kemp sent his condolences and said he, First Lady Marty Kemp and his daughters were “heartbroken.”

“They will be sorely missed by their loved ones and the community they served so well,” Kemp wrote on Twitter.

According to officials, friends and family members filled the courtroom during Abernathy’s hearing to show their support for the victims.

“The Pallones were very loved by their family and their community,” said Assistant District Attorney Pete Lamb.