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Pickup truck crash kills driver

By LEE WILLIAMS
lwilliams@TheCitizenNews.com

Charges have been levied against the driver involved in a two-vehicle collision near the Water and Sewerage Authority in Peachtree City Thursday that left a Senoia man dead.

Johnny Walker, 45, of 983 Ga. Highway 85, Senoia, died at the scene from severe injuries he received in the crash that occurred at 1127 Ga. Highway 74 South about 12:30 a.m., Peachtree City police said.

Walker, the driver of a 1998 blue Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck, was traveling south on Hwy. 74 when he lost control of his vehicle during heavy rain, crossed the centerline and slid into the front end of a 2000 black Ford Ranger.

Joshua Allen Ray, 22, of 120 Azalea Drive, Peachtree City, was behind the wheel of the Ranger, authorities said.

Police and Peachtree City Fire and Rescue personnel responded to the accident just minutes after receiving a call for help.

“Upon the officers’ arrival, they found two vehicles that had collided in the northbound lanes of Hwy. 74,” Peachtree City Police Chief James Murray said in a prepared statement. “The driver of one of the vehicles, Johnny Walker of Senoia, was unresponsive.”

Walker was pronounced dead by medical personnel at the scene, Peachtree City Assistant Fire Chief Ed Eiswerth confirmed.

Ray, who police said was intoxicated, allegedly left the scene before help arrived.

“Ray failed to provide the required information to the police before leaving the scene and failed to render any aid to Walker,” police said. “Ray returned to the scene after a period of time.”

Ray, who also was injured in the collision, was taken by ambulance to Newnan Hospital for treatment.

After officers from the department’s collision reconstruction team, Ray was arrested and charged with driving under the influence after refusing to submit to a test to gauge his blood alcohol level. Ray also was charged with felony hit and run.