Driver Charged With Homicide By Vehicle In Fatal Canton Crash

CANTON, GA — A Canton man is facing multiple charges after a crash Friday near Hickory Flat Highway and Interstate 575 north killed a man.

Canton Police said Thursday the crash happened around 6:15 a.m. at Hickory Flat at its intersection with the I-575 north on-ramp.

A Ford truck was traveling west on Hickory Flat, where a Jeep Wrangler tried to turn left from the turning lane onto the I-575 north entrance ramp. Witnesses told police the driver of the Jeep did not yield while turning, causing the Ford to hit the Jeep's passenger side, police said.

When officers arrived, they saw both the Ford and Jeep with extensive damage, police said.

When they tried to make contact with the drivers and other occupants, police said they noticed two people were trapped inside of the Jeep. Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services extracted them from the Jeep.

The Cherokee County Coroner’s Office notified police Saturday that Juan Lorenzo died of his injuries.

Walter Gaspar, the Jeep's driver, and his front passenger suffered serious injuries and were taken to a local hospital, police said.

The Ford's driver and three occupants were treated and released on scene, police said. A rear passenger suffered minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Gaspar was charged on suspicion of failure to obey traffic control devices, driving without a valid license and second-degree homicide by vehicle, police said. He is being held in the Cherokee County Detention Center.