An 85-year-old man was taken to Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga after being struck by a pickup truck in downtown Mineral Bluff.
Benjamin Cole, of Lakewood Highway, was struck at approximately 8:40 a.m. Friday, March 28, on State Route 60 near Clement Street.
According to the crash report filed by Georgia State Patrol Trooper Dylan Roberts, witnesses at the scene said the victim ran across the highway chasing two chickens without looking to see if traffic had stopped.
The report said Cole was walking south on the northbound side of the roadway.
Johnathan Daniel Dyer, 40, of Hancock Road in Blue Ridge, was traveling north in a Ford Ranger pickup truck.
Cole, “attempted to cross State Route 60 behind other traffic without making sure the roadway was clear. As a result the pedestrian entered (the Ranger’s) lane of travel,” the report said.
Dyer told the trooper he did not see the pedestrian run into the road, and tried to stop once he did see him.
A vehicle ahead of Dyer had swerved to miss the chickens.
Cole was taken by Fannin County EMS to the Riverstone landing zone and from there airlifted by Life Force helicopter to Erlanger Medical Center.
No charges were filed, according to the report.