Man Runs Light in Dump Truck, Dallas Woman Dies

Charges are expected against 34-year-old Jason Chatham of Powder Springs for driving a dump truck through a red light and starting a wreck in Marietta that resulted in the death of a Dallas woman.

Chatham was driving a 1987 Peterbuilt dump truck eastbound on Dallas Highway near the West Sandtown Road intersection Tuesday afternoon, according to a news release from Cobb County police. A 2011 Kia Soul was stopped for the red light in the left turn lane to head west on Dallas Highway.

As the dump truck approached the intersection, traffic began to stop as the light went from yellow to red. The signal changed to green for northbound traffic on West Sandtown Road, and the driver of the Kia began to pull into the intersection.

According to witnesses and investigators, Chatham drove into the turn lane in an attempt to stop for the red light. The dump truck then entered the intersection while the light was red and struck the Kia.

The driver of the Kia, 38-year-old Trisha Miller of Dallas, died after being sent by ambulance to Kennestone Hospital.

The collision sent the dump truck and the Kia into a 2006 Nissan Sentra, driven by 56-year-old Louis R. Duckwall Jr. of Marietta. He was taken to Kennestone by ambulance for serious injuries.

The Kia separated from the dump truck and ran into a guardrail. The dump truck and the Nissan remained in contact until striking a guardrail.

The dump truck continued through the guardrail and came to an uncontrolled stop at the edge of the woods on the north side of the intersection. Chatham was not injured.

Police are continuing to investigate, and anyone with information is asked to call 770-499-3987.