Crime & Safety
Driver Sentenced In Fatal Head-On Collision
The driver of a Comcast truck was behind a stopped Ford Fiesta when it swerved to avoid hitting the car and struck a Chevy pickup truck.
CANTON, GA -- The driver of a Comcast truck who killed a Canton motorist when he collided head-on with a Chevy pickup truck will spend three months at the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center in connection to a September 2015 crash.
On Tuesday, June 20, Anthony Shawn Conner, 41, of Canton pleaded guilty to three counts of homicide by vehicle in the second degree and six counts of failure to exercise due care, court records show.
He was sentenced to a total of 24 months, but will be released on probation once he serves 90 days at the Cherokee County Jail. Conner will also be required to pay a fine of $1,325, complete 240 hours of community service, have no contact with the family of Dwight Charles Kelley and complete defensive driving school.
Find out what's happening in Woodstock-Towne Lakefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The accident was reported around 12:16 p.m. Sept. 28, 2015, along Hickory Flat Highway/S.R. 140 at Avery Road. According to the Georgia State Patrol, a Ford Fiesta and a truck belonging to the cable and internet giant were both traveling eastbound on S.R. 140 while a Chevy pickup truck was heading westbound on the highway.
The Ford came to a stop to make a left turn onto Avery Road and at that moment, the Comcast truck swerved to the left to avoid hitting the car, traveled into the westbound lane and struck the Chevy pickup truck head-on.
Find out what's happening in Woodstock-Towne Lakefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Kelley, the driver of the Chevy, died in the crash and Conner, the driver of the Comcast truck, was transported to Northside Hospital Cherokee where he was treated for injuries.
According to accusations filed by the Solicitor General of Cherokee County Jessica Moss, Conner was using a wireless device to read, send or write text-based communication behind the wheel of the truck, "which caused him to become distracted" and strike the truck driven by Kelley.
Court documents show Conner will serve the required portion of his sentence at the Adult Detention Center from June 23 to May 18, 2018. He will serve 45 consecutive weekends from 7 p.m. to Fridays to 7 p.m. Sundays.
Photo: Anthony Shawn Conner. Credit: Cherokee Sheriff's Office
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
