Prosecution Presents Case in Dickson Fatal Wreck Trial
Testimony is underway in the trial of James Thomas Dickson, the Franklin Springs man allegedly responsible for a wreck that killed two people and injured a third on SR17 in April, 2012.
Authorities say Dickson was driving north on SR17 from Royston about 3 p.m. on April 16th, 2012 when he allegedly crossed the center line and struck a pick up that was pulling a trailer traveling southbound.
A passenger in that pick up, 77-year old Bobby Bland of Reidsville, GA died later at Greenville Memorial Hospital.
Investigators say Dickson’s car then spun around and hit a second pick up behind the first one, causing that driver, identified as 43-year old Joey Hart of Hull, GA, to lose control, skid across the northbound lane and down a 30-ft embankment. He died at the scene.
Dickson was indicted last October by a Franklin County Grand Jury on four counts of homicide by vehicle in the first degree, two counts of serious injry by vehicle, possession of Schedule IV controlled substances, driving under the influence of controlled substances, DUI less safe drugs, DUI per se, DUI less safe alcohol and driving on the wrong side of the road.
On Tuesday, Northern Judicial Circuit District Attorney Parks White presented over 10 witnesses.
Among them, the jury heard testimony from Scott Smith, Unit Commander for the Georgia State Patrol’s Specialized Accident Investigation Team.
Smith testified at length about the investigation, using photos from the accident scene to show how troopers concluded Dickson caused the accident.
Smith said black boxes taken from the air bags in both pick ups showed the speed of both vehicles at the time of the accident. He testified Powell was traveling at 55mph and had tried to apply her brakes immediately before the accident. He said Hart was going 66mph and did not apply his brakes.
Defense attorney Charles Desiderio asked Smith how he could prove his client was traveling north on SR17 and Smith said the black boxes, coupled with the position and damage to the vehicles showed how the accident happened.
Other testimony came Tuesday from Joey Hart’s widow, Tina who broke down in tears when asked to identify a photo of her husband’s body over the objections of Desiderio, who called the inclusion of the photos, quote, “cruel, immaterial and prejudicial.”
However, Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit Senior Judge Michael Hancock disagreed and allowed the photos.
One of the more damaging testimonies Tuesday came from Michelle Sosby – an employee of Canon Package store. Sosby told the court Dickson bought 10 mini bottles of Fireball Whiskey, which has an alcohol content of 70 – 80%, at about 1:30p on April 16th.
Sosby said Dickson was a regular at the package store, coming in sometimes daily to buy 10 or more Fireball Whiskey mini bottles at a time.
During her testimony, White played a portion of the store surveillance video from April 16th 2012, in which Dickson is identified by Sosby as the person buying the mini-bottles of whiskey about an hour and half before the accident.
But Sosby admitted during cross examination she never saw Dickson consume any of the alcohol he purchased.
Sources tells WLHR News, Dickson is expected to testify in his own defense, but the prosecution continues presenting their case this morning.