A former police officer who was involved in a high-speed crash that killed a 70-year-old newspaper carrier was indicted today on a charge of homicide by vehicle in the first degree.
Former officer James Smith also was charged with reckless driving, Conasauga Circuit District Attorney Bert Poston said.
According to Smith’s attorney, Smith will turn himself into the jail Friday. Smith has agreed to a $5,000 bond, Poston said in an email.
Smith was driving at high speed when he and Dalton Daily Citizen newspaper carrier Leon Thurman crashed on March 5. Thurman was ejected from his car as it burst into flames. He died at the scene.
See tomorrow’s Times Free Press for complete details.
Joy Lukachick is a crime reporter for the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Since 2009, she's covered breaking news, high-profile trials, stories of lost lives and of regained hope and done investigative work. Raised near the Bayou, Joy’s hometown is along the outskirts of Baton Rouge, La. She has a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Louisiana State University. While at LSU, Joy was a staff writer for the Daily Reveille. When Joy isn't chasing down ...
