FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Sheriff Investigating Collision Involving Truck and Pedestrians at Coble Elementary School

Sheriff Mitch Ralston Reports:

At approximately 1:55 p.m. today, Saturday, November 8th, deputy sheriffs were dispatched along with other emergency services to Coble Elementary School on Reeves Station Road in unincorporated western Gordon County in response to a report of an automobile having struck a number of pedestrians there. Within minutes, deputies arrived on the scene along with Gordon County Emergency Medical and Fire Rescue personnel who began giving aid to the injured. Investigating deputies and detectives determined that a middle-aged male driver of a pickup truck apparently suffered some type of acute medical emergency before losing consciousness and control of his vehicle in a parking lot. According to witnesses and evidence at the scene, the out-of-control vehicle struck other automobiles and three pedestrians before coming to rest. Two of the pedestrians were children. The driver of the pickup truck was subsequently pronounced dead. Investigating officers do not believe that alcohol or drugs were a factor in this event. Two of the injured pedestrians were flown by helicopter to Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga, while the third was taken to a local hospital. The Calhoun Police assisted in providing traffic control. A substantial number of people were at the Coble campus at the time of the incident today celebrating a school anniversary. The investigation into the collision is continuing by Sheriff’s Office personnel.