A woman killed last week while fleeing Georgia State Patrol in a stolen vehicle has been identified.
Dorothy Marie Roberson, 32, of St. Augustine, Fla., died on impact Friday evening, Aug. 7, after losing control of the vehicle.
A 2012 Chevrolet was traveling east on Highway 52 in Dawson County and fleeing a marked GSP vehicle with his emergency lights and sirens activated, GSP spokeswoman Robin Stone said.
Roberson attempted to negotiate a sharp left downhill curve when she lost control and exited the roadway off the south shoulder.
The vehicle struck a set of trees on its right rear side, then struck another set with the left front, Stone said. The vehicle then travelled down a steep embankment overturning one or more times. There was a brief fire present in the engine on impact with the trees.
A front airbag deployed and the woman was not ejected from the vehicle, Stone said.
Minutes earlier, Roberson eluded an East Ellijay police officer who was responding to a call at about 6:45 p.m. regarding a pickup truck driving erratically and heading north on Highway 515 in Gilmer County.
We had two 911 calls come in that a Chevy pickup truck was forcing people off the roadway and speeding, East Ellijay Police Chief Larry Callahan said.
After the first 911 call, law enforcement issued an alert for the pickup truck. A second caller spotted the vehicle and gave authorities the license plate information.
Within a few minutes, we made contact with the vehicle and did a traffic stop, Callahan said. Shortly after the vehicle stopped and the officer made contact with the driver, the vehicle fled going east on Highway 52. The officer gave a short chase and then called it off. He determined it was too dangerous to pursue her. He was operating off the premise she was wanted.
A GSP trooper in the area was unaware of East Ellijays involvement, according to Callahan.
It is my understanding GSP was in the area, met the vehicle, and turned around to pursue it, he said.
The stolen vehicle belonged to Donald Savely of Lafayette, La.
No charges have been filed because of the drivers death.
It is unknown at this time if drugs or alcohol were involved, Stone said.
The driver failed to stay in the proper lane and it is lucky no other vehicles were involved.