A log truck driver has been indicted on several charges in connection with an April wreck that claimed the life of a 33-year-old Forsyth County woman.
A Dawson County grand jury on March 2 returned an indictment against Jackie Lee Blackwell, 55, of Talking Rock on charges of first-degree homicide by vehicle, driving under the influence and reckless driving.
Blackwell also was indicted on charges of driving with suspended license, failure to maintain lane and driving on wrong side of road.
Authorities said it appeared Blackwell lost control of the log truck while traveling west on Kelly Bridge Road in southwestern Dawson County.
The truck struck a pickup driven by Felicia M. Croy of Riley Road in Cumming, spilling the logs onto her vehicle.
Northeastern Judicial Circuit District Attorney John Wilbanks said the indictment against Blackwell speaks for itself.
“He was on the wrong side of the road and driving too fast for the load he was carrying,” Wilbanks said.
The district attorney’s office received the report of the death case on Jan. 29 from the Georgia State Patrol and then presented it to the grand jury.
“Now we’re moving forward,” he said.
An arraignment is scheduled for March 31. Wilbanks expects the trial to begin in late spring or early summer.
Blackwell is represented by Jasper attorney George Weaver, who could not be reached for comment.
Blackwell worked for Reece Logging Co. of Jasper. Calls made Monday to the company were not answered.
A spokesman for the company has previously said he could not comment on whether the logs were properly secured or give out any other information on the matter.
Croy was one of 10 traffic-related deaths in Dawson County in 2008.