Local

GDOT apologizes after dead deer dumped on dead-end road

ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. — Crews have cleaned up a gruesome scene after two dozen dead deer were found dumped on a local road.

A driver made a wrong turn and made the gruesome discovery in Rockdale County.

Channel 2's Steve Gehlbach was there when a crew arrived Tuesday to remove the deer from the area on Dogwood Drive.

The Georgia Department of Transportation calls it an apparent error by one of their contractors tasked to dispose of roadkill.

“Even the stench from where i am now, is horrible,” said driver Sameerah Smith.

It was right next to Interstate 20 and Gehlbach confirmed that it is state-owned land, or right of way.

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The driver who made a wrong turn and came to the end of the road and spotted the carcasses contacted Channel 2 Action News.

We then contacted Rockdale County.

They said their department of transportation takes all dead deer to the landfill, and expected that GDOT did the same.

“We want to rectify this as soon as possible and find a solution to this because we can’t give people the idea that they can just dump things, whether it’s trash, or dead animals, and just think Rockdale County’s a dumping ground, because we’re not,” Rockdale County Public Relations Director Jorge Diez said.

Gehlbach received an email response from GDOT, apologizing to county and local residents.

“We will ensure that all personnel and contractors working on behalf of Georgia DOT adhere to proper disposal methods in accordance with previous guidance given by the department of agriculture.”