A driver was killed Friday after being struck by a pickup truck that was being pursued by troopers in Atlanta, authorities said.
The chase began near the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Fairburn Road, where Atlanta police officers tried to pull over the driver of a Ram 1500 shortly before 3 p.m. The Georgia State Patrol said the driver, identified as 31-year-old Ryan Hicks, refused to stop and a pursuit began. It was then that Atlanta police requested help from the GSP.
After troopers took over the chase, Hicks entered I-285 and began driving recklessly, officials said. When the pickup exited the interstate onto Campbellton Road and approached the intersection of Barge Road, the GSP said Hicks ran a red light and hit a Dodge Challenger that was traveling north.
The impact caused the Dodge to leave the road and hit a utility pole. The driver, Tamara Taylor, was pronounced dead at the scene.
“There was no contact between the trooper’s car and the violator’s car during or prior to the crash,” a GSP spokesperson said.
Hicks is facing charges of murder, first-degree vehicular homicide, fleeing, possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, DUI, reckless driving, speeding and several other traffic violations.
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