A Crandall, Ga., man has been arrested in connection with Sunday's fatal crash that killed two people north of Dalton.
Gary R. Cooper, 60, is charged with driving on a suspended license, failure to maintain lane, driving on the wrong side of the road and first-degree homicide by vehicle, according to Georgia State Patrol officials.
The crash about 7:50 p.m. Sunday killed Westley L. Cummings, 52, and Wanda F. Cummings, 49, both of Chatsworth, Ga., who were riding a 2015 Harley-Davidson, officials said.
Cooper told officers he was lighting a cigarette and his vehicle crossed the center line into the path of the oncoming motorcycle, authorities said. The motorcycle was headed east on Dawnville Road when Cooper's 1995 Mercury Grand Marquis crossed the center line of the road and hit the motorcycle head-on, officials said.
The motorcycle left the road on the south shoulder while the Mercury rotated and went off the same side of the road, authorities said. The motorcycle ended up facing east and the Mercury came to rest facing north.
GSP's Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team is conducting a follow up investigation, officials said.
Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or twitter.com/BenBenton or www.facebook.com/ben. benton1 or 423-757-6569.