Man, 52, killed when car hits tree Whitfield County, Ga. - and more Chattanooga region news

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

photo Man crashes into tree

Man, 52, killed when car hits tree Whitfield County, Ga.

DALTON, Ga. - A man has died after crashing his car into a tree in Whitfield County, Ga.

Investigators believe 52-year-old Olen Roberts of Chatsworth experienced some sort of medical emergency that caused the crash.

Shortly before 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, 911 dispatchers received a report that Roberts was trying to drive to Hamilton Medical Center with chest pains and alerted officers to look out for his red Honda Civic, according to a news release from Dalton police.

At 5:07 a.m., a witness reported seeing a vehicle matching the Civic's description leave the roadway on North Dalton Bypass and strike a tree. The witness told investigators that the driver didn't hit the brakes or try to veer back onto the road before hitting the tree.


Police: Driver ran down cyclist

ATLANTA - Investigators are searching for a driver of an SUV who is accused of deliberately running down a bicyclist.

Witnesses told WSB-TV that the driver appeared to intentionally run down the man on Monday evening, dragging him about 50 feet. The bicyclist was wedged under a parked vehicle.

Atlanta Police Officer John Chafee said the incident came following an argument between the men.

Authorities said the cyclist was reported in serious but stable condition at Grady Memorial Hospital.


Gingrich backs Kingston for Senate

Newt Gingrich is adding his support to Rep. Jack Kingston's campaign for Georgia's open Senate seat.

The former U.S. House speaker and Republican presidential candidate said Tuesday that Kingston is "a tireless reformer dedicated to advancing our conservative values."

Gingrich helped recruit Kingston to run for Congress. Kingston is vying with former Dollar General CEO David Perdue for the Republican nomination and already has picked up key endorsements from two former rivals, ex-Secretary of State Karen Handel and Rep. Phil Gingrey.

Kingston and Perdue will compete in a runoff July 22. The winner will face Democrat Michelle Nunn in November.

The race is among a dozen or so being watched nationally. Republicans can't afford to lose the Georgia seat as they look to take control of the Senate.


Woman charged in animal cruelty

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Police say a Middle Tennessee woman is facing more animal cruelty charges after eight emaciated dogs were found at her mother's home.

Nicole Hulbig and her estranged husband, Eric Hulbig, were arrested last week on four counts of aggravated animal cruelty after Montgomery County Animal Control officers discovered four decomposing puppies at their Clarksville home.

The Leaf-Chronicle reported that investigation led authorities to check out the Sumner County property of Nicole Hulbig's mother, where they seized 39 dogs living in a barn. Authorities said the conditions of eight dogs led to the additional charges.

Nicole Hulbig is the founder of a nonprofit organization in Clarksville that claims to rescue dogs and train them for disabled soldiers. She has denied wrongdoing.