Local News
Man charged in motorcycle fatality
A Dalton man is charged with second degree vehicular homicide in the death of a motorcyclist Thursday morning in Whitfield County.
Ismael Lopez-Rodriguez, 36, of 119 Gay St., was traveling north on the South Bypass in a 2007 Nissan Versa when he pulled in front of motorcyclist Audie Burnette, 45, of Chatsworth, according to Trooper Daniel Burt with the Georgia State Patrol. Whitfield 911 received a call on the wreck at 6:31 a.m.
Burt said Lopez-Rodriguez was in the left hand turn lane of the bypass, intending to turn onto Wagner Drive. Burnette slammed into the passenger side of the Nissan and was thrown over the car, Burt said. He was taken by ambulance to Hamilton Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 6:48 a.m., said Whitfield County coroner Bobbie Dixon.
Lopez-Rodriguez is charged with second degree vehicular homicide, failure to yield, driving on an expired license, failure to register a vehicle within 30 days of moving to Georgia and failure to get a Georgia driver’s license within 30 days of moving to the state. He was in the Whitfield County Jail Thursday evening and is expected to have a bond hearing in magistrate court bond this morning.
“There were two adult females in the car with Mr. Lopez-Rodriguez and a juvenile female,” said Burt. “The juvenile was in a (child seat belt), and the two females were taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons.”
The Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team (SCRT) is investigating.
Burt said another vehicle, described as “small and dark colored” by witnesses, was also involved in the wreck but left the scene. Anyone with information about that car or its occupants is asked to call the Georgia State Patrol at (706) 272-2200, extension 1.
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Preparing for the big game
Kayla Webb, 15, performs a cheer with the varsity and junior varsity members of the North Murray cheerleading team Wednesday as they walk laps around the track at Murray High School. The team is getting ready for their first game of the season, scheduled for Aug. 20, a scrimmage against Murray High. Matt Hamilton/The Daily Citizen
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