A Calhoun man, 44 year-old Matthew Allen Pickens, is facing a long list of charges in connection with a deadly high-speed crash that ended a police pursuit late last month, authorities confirmed this week. According to reports Pickens been charged with multiple felonies, including first-degree vehicular homicide, following an August 23 collision that claimed the life of a 49-year-old Lookout Mountain man.

The incident began around 2:39 p.m. when a Gordon County deputy stationed near Exit 317 on Interstate 75 was nearly struck by a black Mercedes. The deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the driver, later identified as Pickens, fled at a high rate of speed, exiting the interstate at Exit 312 onto Fairmount Highway.

Additional deputies joined the pursuit as the suspect vehicle sped east on Fairmount Highway, eventually turning onto a bypass near Blackwood Road. As Pickens approached the intersection with Highway 53 (Rome Road), he crossed the median into the westbound lanes, driving into oncoming traffic.

According to reports, Pickens was traveling too fast to negotiate the turn and he crossed through the grass median into the westbound lanes of travel on GA 53 Spur… Troopers were approaching the intersection but never made contact with the vehicle.

The Mercedes collided head-on with a Honda CR-V, which immediately caught fire upon impact. Deputies and troopers rushed to the scene, assisting in removing victims from both burning vehicles. The Gordon County Coroner confirmed that the deceased victim, identified only as a front-seat passenger in the CR-V, died at the scene.

The 35-year-old driver of the Honda and a 9-year-old male passenger were airlifted by Life Force to an area hospital with serious injuries. Pickens was also flown to Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga for treatment.

Pickens now faces a total of nearly 20 charges, including:

  • First-degree vehicular homicide
  • Two counts of serious injury by vehicle
  • Fleeing or attempting to elude police
  • Driving under the influence
  • Driving on a suspended license
  • Reckless driving
  • Driving on the wrong side of the road
  • Crossing the median of a divided highway
  • Speeding in excess of 125 mph, and numerous other traffic violations.

This is not Pickens’ first encounter with law enforcement. According to the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office, he has been jailed three times in the past five years, each time related to traffic offenses.

The investigation remains ongoing.