Innocent ATV Driver Killed By Truck Pursued By Bartow Deputies: GSP

CARTERSVILLE, GA —A man on an all-terrain vehicle died Tuesday evening when a truck being pursued by Bartow County deputies went out of control and struck him, according to authorities.

According to the Georgia State Patrol, Bartow County Sheriff’s deputies chasing a Nissan Titan on Highway 53 into Gordon County just after 7 p.m. intentionally bumped the vehicle to turn it sideways and stop it.

Instead, the Nissan truck began to rotate counterclockwise and flew off the highway at a “very high rate of speed,” striking an ATV traveling west in a nearby ditch. The ATV driver, Dustin Cody Thomas, 48, of Calhoun, was fatally injured, according to the state patrol.

The truck's driver, Joshua T. Eaker, 33, of Chattanooga, was initially charged with felony aggravated assault, according to online records. Felony charges of drug trafficking, tampering with evidence, fleeing from an officer and terroristic threats have since been added, along with misdemeanor driving charges.

Eaker first drew pursuit minutes earlier at the site of another fatality near mile marker 311 on Interstate 75. That accident led to the death of Jeffrey Burkhart, 62, of Calhoun, according to the Gordon Gazette.

When Eaker's truck sped past the first accident scene — veering off the interstate and onto the grass — a Georgia State Trooper gave chase, following Eaker off exit 312. From there, the trooper chased Eaker east on Fairmount Highway headed toward Highway 53.

But when the trooper's cruiser hit a raised concrete sewer opening along the edge of the road, his car was disabled and he had to stop, according to the state patrol. A Bartow County deputy continued the chase moments later.

No troopers or deputies were injured during the chase. Bartow County Sheriff Clark Millsap declined comment, saying that the incident was still being investigated by the state patrol.

Eaker, who is being held without bond in the Bartow County Jail, will have a court hearing Thursday morning.