Man indicted on vehicular homicide charge in Marietta crash

William Brandon Headen has been indicted on one count each of vehicular homicide in the first degree and serious injury by vehicle, both of which are felonies, in connection with the July 31 crash that killed 64-year-old Ricky Bradford and injured his brother, Larry, 60.

Credit: Cobb County Sheriff's Office

Credit: Cobb County Sheriff's Office

William Brandon Headen has been indicted on one count each of vehicular homicide in the first degree and serious injury by vehicle, both of which are felonies, in connection with the July 31 crash that killed 64-year-old Ricky Bradford and injured his brother, Larry, 60.

A Cobb County grand jury has indicted a driver who police say caused a deadly collision by improperly passing slower-moving traffic on Interstate 75.

The grand jury Thursday indicted William Brandon Headen on one count each of vehicular homicide in the first degree and serious injury by vehicle, both of which are felonies, in connection with the July 31 crash that killed 64-year-old Ricky Bradford and injured his brother, Larry, 60.

According to a previous report by Marietta police, a 1994 Ford F-150 was stopped due to “mechanical issues” in the gore between the Canton Road connector entrance ramp to I-75 southbound. A 2000 Chevrolet Silverado, which was pulling a trailer, was directly in front of the Ford pickup truck.

Marietta police say the brothers were loading the Ford onto the trailer when Headen, who was driving a 2016 Hyundai Sonata, used the gore area to pass slower-moving traffic on the entrance ramp. Police say Headen “unlawfully entered” the gore area and hit the rear bumper of the Ford truck.

Ricky Bradford, who was navigating the Ford truck onto the trailer, was ejected from the truck. Larry Bradford, who was preparing to attach the Ford to the trailer, was hit by the truck after it detached from the Sonata.

Both men sustained life-threatening injuries and were transported by ambulance to WellStar Kennestone Hospital. Ricky Bradford’s condition worsened and he died Aug. 11, Marietta police said. Headen, who sustained minor injuries in the crash, was treated and released from Kennestone Hospital.

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