Driver killed after crashing off 100-foot embankment

CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. — Police are investigating a crash that killed a driver in Cherokee County.

The pick-up truck crashed off of Interstate 575 during Friday’s busy morning rush hour.

The victim has been identified by police as 37-year-old middle school chorus teacher Kevin White.

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Department told Channel 2's Steve Gehlbach the driver was in the southbound lanes near Ridgewalk Parkway when he hit a dirt pile, which caused his truck to launch into the air and crash down 100 feet.

TRENDING STORIES:

• Rick Ross in court for kidnapping, assault case
• Judge dismisses 11 charges against man accused of holding women captive
• Deputies: Family kept badly decomposed body, used Vietnam vet's benefits

Gehlbach said it appears the truck hit the ground head-on before flipping onto the roof, crushing the cab and killing the driver.

Reports from other drivers and calls to 911 indicated that the pickup was going very fast.

"It’s a significant drop, and it appears (the truck was) traveling (at a) pretty high rate of speed, from the distance from the car to where they went airborne,” said Cherokee County Lt. Jay Baker.

Gehlbach said there was a sweatshirt and sheet music outside the truck.

Woodstock police and Cherokee County deputies are investigating the crash. They’re looking into if this was an accident or possibly a medical emergency that caused the driver to lose control.

You can download our news app for alerts across metro Atlanta here

Cox Media Group