Dickson Trial Starts Today

Jury selection gets underway today for the trial of a Franklin Springs man facing multiple charges in connection with a fatal wreck last year that killed two people.

It happened in April, 2012 on SR17 between Canon and Royston.

Authorities say James Thomas Dickson, 43 was heading north on 17 from Royston when he crossed the center line and hit a pick up pulling a trailer head on.

The driver of the pick-up, identified as 80-year old Julia Sikes Powell of Reidsville, GA, was injured and her husband, 77-year old Bobby William Bland, was air lifted to Greenville Memorial Hospital where he later died.

Behind their truck was another pick-up driven by  41-year old Joey Hart of Hull, GA.  Hart tried to swerve to avoid the head-on collision but was also hit by Dickson. 

Hart lost control of his pick up, skidded across the northbound lane and down a 30-foot embankment.  He died at the scene.

Dickson is charged with two counts of felony first-degree homicide by vehicle, one count of DUI, one count of serious injury by vehicle, on count of unlawful possession/purchase of any controlled substance, and one count of driving on the wrong side of the road.

Dickson’s trial is set to begin at 9:30a next Monday with Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit Senior Judge Michael Hancock presiding.