Mark Millican
markmillican@daltoncitizen.com
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A Crandall teenager whose car left the road and struck a tree, leaving his passenger entrapped and dying with the car on fire, was arrested on the scene Thursday, authorities said.
Brian Dakota Bell, 17, of 11599 Highway 411 N., was charged by the Georgia State Patrol with homicide by vehicle. The passenger was Donald Lamar Maton, 23, of 276 Chapel Way in Dalton.
Jonathan Sosebee of the Murray County Coroner’s Office said Maton died at the scene. Murray 911 reported receiving the emergency call at 3:30 p.m.
“The Ford Taurus was traveling east on Booger Branch Road (in Crandall) when the driver lost control and left the roadway, striking a tree,” said Trooper First Class 2 Wesley Kerce. “The passenger became entrapped in the vehicle and then it caught fire. (Bell) fled on foot but was apprehended by a Murray County (Sheriff’s Office) deputy.”
Bell was denied bond in a Magistrate Court appearance on Friday and will face a bond hearing in Superior Court on Wednesday, a jail spokeswoman said.
Arrangements for Maton are incomplete and will be announced by the Melrose Chapel of Ponders Funeral Home in Dalton.
