ROME, GA — A devastating crash on North Broad Street has claimed the lives of Lamont Cornett, 62, and his wife, Rhonda Cornett, 60, after a high-speed SUV plowed into their vehicle on Friday. The tragedy has left family, friends, and the wider community grieving the sudden loss of a beloved couple.
According to Rome police, the deadly sequence began when a white SUV, traveling at a high rate of speed, clipped another vehicle near the North Rome Church of God. Instead of stopping, the SUV continued northbound, barreling into traffic stopped at the intersection of North Broad Street and North Avenue.
The SUV struck a white Hyundai that was waiting at a red light. Rhonda Cornett, 60, was behind the wheel, with her husband, Lamont, 62, in the passenger seat. The impact was catastrophic, and both were pronounced dead at the scene by Floyd County Coroner Jodan Pierson.
Authorities confirmed that the SUV driver survived the crash with non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Police say they are working to confirm the identity of the driver, and charges are expected once the investigation is complete.
“This was a horrific and completely preventable tragedy,” one officer at the scene remarked. “Two lives were lost instantly because of reckless driving at high speed.”
News of the Cornetts’ passing has rippled through Rome, where the couple was known for their kindness and dedication to family. Neighbors and friends described them as inseparable, a pair who built their lives together and were deeply loved by those around them. “They were the heart of their family,” one friend shared. “Losing them like this is unthinkable.”
The incident also highlights ongoing concerns about reckless driving and speed-related crashes in the area. Local officials have urged drivers to slow down and remain alert, reminding the public that even a moment of negligence can end in irreversible consequences.
As investigators piece together the events leading up to the collision, the community’s focus remains on supporting the grieving family. Condolences have poured in from across Floyd County, with many expressing both sorrow and outrage at the senselessness of the tragedy.
“Our deepest prayers are with the family and friends of Lamont and Rhonda Cornett,” a police spokesperson said. “We will continue to pursue justice for their loss.”
For now, the memory of the Cornetts endures in the love they shared, the lives they touched, and the legacy they leave behind — even as their absence leaves a void that words cannot fill.
