Monroe County Man Dies After ATV Strikes Tree Near Zebulon Road as Deputies Investigate Friday Evening Crash

MONROE COUNTY, GA — A 78-year-old Monroe County man died Friday after an all-terrain vehicle hit a tree in a wooded area near Zebulon Road, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies were called to the scene around 6:11 p.m. near Estes Road. The sheriff’s office identified the man as Dewey Pope.

Investigators have not said whether Pope was driving the ATV, whether anyone else was with him, or what caused the crash. The incident remains under review.

Deputies called to wooded area off Zebulon Road

The crash happened in a wooded stretch off Zebulon Road near Estes Road, an area where roads border thicker tree cover and private land. The sheriff’s office said deputies responded in the early evening after the wreck was reported.

Officials have not released details about the ATV’s speed, the condition of the trail or ground, or whether emergency crews tried to provide medical aid at the scene. No additional injuries were reported in the sheriff’s statement.

For now, the location and the timing are the main confirmed details. Authorities have not publicly identified any witnesses or described how the vehicle came to strike the tree.

Dewey Pope identified as the man who died

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office named the victim as 78-year-old Dewey Pope. No further biographical information about Pope was released in connection with the crash.

Officials did not say whether he lived nearby or how long he may have been in the area before the collision. The sheriff’s office also did not say whether the ATV was registered, who owned it, or whether any safety equipment was being used.

In fatal crashes like this, identification can take time while deputies notify family members and document the scene. The office has not shared any information about that process here beyond Pope’s name and age.

Questions remain about who was operating the ATV

One of the biggest unanswered questions is whether Pope was driving the ATV when it struck the tree. The sheriff’s office has not confirmed that detail, and it has not said whether another person was involved in the crash.

That lack of information leaves open several possibilities investigators may be sorting through, including whether the vehicle was being operated by the victim, a passenger, or someone else entirely. Authorities have not said if there were skid marks, rollover damage or other signs that might explain the impact.

Until deputies release more findings, it is unclear whether the crash stemmed from a mechanical problem, terrain conditions or simple loss of control. The investigation is still active.

ATV crashes often require detailed scene work

Fatal ATV wrecks can be difficult to piece together because they often happen in isolated areas with few direct witnesses. Investigators typically look at the vehicle, the path of travel, surrounding terrain and any signs left on the ground to determine what happened.

In this case, the sheriff’s office has not described the condition of the tree, the ATV, or the surrounding wooded area. It also has not said whether weather, darkness or visibility played any role in the collision.

Those unanswered questions mean the crash’s cause remains unknown for now. Authorities have only confirmed that the ATV struck a tree and that Pope died as a result.

Sheriff’s office says the case remains under investigation

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said the crash is still being investigated, and no further findings were immediately available Friday. That means deputies may still be reviewing statements, scene evidence and any available reports connected to the wreck.

At this point, the only confirmed facts are the time of the response, the wooded location near Zebulon Road and Estes Road, the victim’s identity, and the fatal outcome. The agency has not announced whether a more detailed update will be released.

For Monroe County residents, the incident is another reminder that ATV travel can turn deadly quickly, especially in wooded or uneven terrain. The sheriff’s office has not said when the investigation will be completed.