Witness describes violent collision that killed Marietta man

One person died in a two-car collision Sunday afternoon in Cobb County. (Credit: Shane Shiflett)

One person died in a two-car collision Sunday afternoon in Cobb County. (Credit: Shane Shiflett)

A Marietta man is dead after a collision between a car and a pickup truck Sunday afternoon.

The crash happened about 12:17 p.m. on South Cobb Drive at Appleton Road, Cobb County police spokeswoman Officer Alicia Chilton said.

Bruce Barker, 66, was killed when his Ford Ranger collided with a Ford Mustang driven by 21-year old Jabriel Wooden of Marietta, Chilton said.

Witness Corey Youngblood of Douglasville told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution the crash happened in front of him as he was avoiding Braves traffic by taking South Cobb Parkway on his way to lunch in Marietta.

“The guy in the Mustang passed me and he was moving,” Youngblood said, guessing the driver of a red Mustang was speeding about 70 mph.

By the time Youngblood was in front of the gas station at the intersection of Appleton Road, he said he could see only dust and dirt.

“The white truck was flipping,” Youngblood said. “The guy in the truck — you could tell he had expired.”

The Mustang might have t-boned the pickup truck as its driver tried to pull into the gas station, Youngblood said.

Youngblood said the crash and ensuing chaotic scene with people coming out of a nearby extended stay motel surprised him.

“It’s one of those moments like, Jesus, that could have been me,” he said. “It was a real sobering moment.”

Youngblood left when he realized, “There was nothing I could do.”

Wooden, who drove the Mustang, was taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition, Chilton said.

While this collision remains under investigation, speed is a possible contributing factor, Chilton said. Anyone with information about this collision is asked to call (770) 499-3987.

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