DEFENDANT IN FATAL CRASH ON AUGUST 23 IDENTIFIED, CHARGED WITH HOMICIDE, NOW IN GORDON COUNTY JAIL…

At about 2:40pm today (August 23) a deputy sheriff was on I-75 South Bound at the Exit 317 entrance ramp when a Mercedes automobile passed his patrol car, nearly striking it. The deputy followed the car, which was driving erratically, making rapid lane changes, to Exit 312 (Fairmount Highway). When the deputy attempted to stop the Mercedes, the driver aggressively sped away at a high rate of speed, initiating a pursuit. The deputy, soon joined by other deputies, pursued the Mercedes east on Fairmount Highway to the intersection with the State Route 53 Bypass near Blackwood. The violator turned onto the Bypass and continued fleeing back toward Calhoun, with deputies giving chase. The violator drove at speeds well in excess of 100 miles per hour, recklessly outpacing the deputies, until he reached the intersection of the Bypass and State Route 53/Rome Road

At this intersection the violator recklessly, irresponsibly, and in total disregard for the safety of any other person, made the decision to cross the roadway and drive the wrong way into oncoming (westbound) traffic. The deputies did not pursue the violator into the oncoming traffic. Within a few seconds, the violator struck a Honda CRV head on. One occupant was killed and two others severely injured. The deputies immediately began attempting to remove the injured from the cars, both of which were burning, and administering first aid.

Fire/Rescue and Emergency Medical Service personnel arrived swiftly to extricate and treat the injured. Three persons were airlifted away by heliborne ambulance. The violator, himself severely hurt, has not been positively identified.

The Georgia State Patrol is conducting the investigation of the crash, in conjunction with the County Coroner.