Runaway truck kills 2 workers, hurts 2 others at construction site, Georgia police say
UPDATE: Two men killed in a runaway truck crash at a north Georgia construction site have been identified as John Lane Hunter, 21, of Kingston and Cody Hauser, 19, of Cartersville, according to the Floyd County Police Department. No charges are expected, and the incident remains under investigation by OSHA.
Original story continues below.
Two people are dead and at least two others are seriously injured after a runaway truck crashed at a construction site in northwest Georgia, multiple news outlets reported.
The deadly crash occurred around 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 14, off Old Dalton Road in Calhoun, Floyd County police said at a news conference streamed by WSB-TV.
A flatbed truck was being loaded at the top of a hill when, for unknown reasons, its brakes failed and caused the truck to careen forward, department spokesman Chris Fincher said, as reported by WXIA.
“While the truck was being loaded up the hill, a small (Bobcat) excavator was traveling down hill with a flagger on foot providing assistance,” Fincher said, according to the news station. “That bobcat and flagger were struck by the truck.”
The victims suffered “significant injuries” and were pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Two others were also hurt in the crash. One person was airlifted to a hospital and the other was taken to Atrium Health in nearby Rome, WGCL reported, citing authorities.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was notified and is investigating the incident.
McClatchy News reached out to the Floyd County Police Department and is awaiting a response.
Calhoun is about 70 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta.
This story was originally published June 14, 2022 at 2:00 PM with the headline "Runaway truck kills 2 workers, hurts 2 others at construction site, Georgia police say."