A multi-county police chase in Gordon county ended with the death of 48-year-old Dustin Cody Thomas of Calhoun Tuesday evening.
According to WBHF radio, on On Tuesday, May 17, 2022 Bartow County Sheriff’s Deputies were pursuing a gray Nissan Titan along Highway 53 traveling east in Gordon County when a Bartow County Deputy utilized the PIT maneuver to end the pursuit. The Nissan Titan, driven by Joshua T. Eaker, began to rotate counterclockwise and traveled off the north edge of the roadway and into a ditch at a very high rate of speed. The Nissan Titan struck an ATV which was traveling west in the ditch. The ATV’s operator, 48-year-old Dustin Cody Thomas of Calhoun, was fatally injured. After striking Thomas, the Nissan Titan came to a final rest, partially blocking the highway’s westbound lane. Eaker was booked into the Bartow County Jail and charged with one count of felony assault. No Troopers or Deputies were injured during this crash.
The fatal accident started following another fatal wreck on I 75 near Mile Marker 311. Reports aid that a GSP trooper was completing an investigation into the fatal crash when he saw the Nissan Titan truck approaching at a high rate of speed.
The pickup traveled off the east edge of the interstate and drove around the crash scene, through the grass, before re-entering I-75 northbound. The trooper began pursuing the pickup as it exited at the 312. The pursuit traveled east on Fairmount Highway toward Ga. 53 and traveled along Ga. 53 eastbound.
During the pursuit, the trooper’s vehicle struck a raised concrete sewer opening along the edge of the roadway which disabled his patrol vehicle and ended his involvement in the pursuit. The patrol vehicle was towed from the scene and the trooper was cleared at the scene by EMTs.
NWGA Scanner contributed to this story and photo
