Driver was ‘following too closely' in crash that killed 5, initial report says

ATLANTA — The truck driver was "following too closely" in a crash that killed five nursing students, an initial report stated.

Channel 2’s Liz Artz obtained the preliminary crash report on the deadly I-16 accident that claimed the lives of five Georgia Southern University nursing students. Attorney Bob Cheeley who is representing several of the victim's families, said the biggest question they have was not answered in the report.

"What was going on in this drivers mind that he could not see a mile of tail lights from stopped traffic at that hour in the morning is just baffling," said Cheeley.

The students killed were Emily Clark, Catherine McKay Pittman, Morgan Bass, Abbie Deloach and Caitlyn Baggett.

Georgia State Patrol said the investigation is on-going and charges are pending, but the initial report stated  it was John Wayne Johnson, the 55-year-old truck driver from Shreveport Louisiana who made initial impact was following "too closely".

Cheeley said the computer download on the truck shows it collided with Emily Clark's Toyota corolla traveling 68 miles per hour on impact.

"There was no breaking involved and that was confirmed by computer download absent of skid marks on pavement," Cheeley said.

The report also states Johnson was not tested for drug or alcohol consumption. G.S.P. says the trooper investigating the deadly wreck did not suspect drugs or alcohol and therefore is not required to administer one.

"I know from a standpoint of closure clients wish test had been done we'll never know,

The report stated in all, seven vehicles were involved in the deadly crash and that six drivers were all stopped in traffic, because of a backup that had been caused by an accident hours earlier.

Cheeley said one witness stated it was still dark at about 5:45 a.m. and that he saw people braking ahead and was able to stop in time. He had stopped in the outside lane and said he heard a loud bang in back of him which was apparently the start of the chain reaction accident. Cheeley said witnesses thought it was a bomb going off.

The report said the semi-truck was driven by John Johnson of Shreveport, Louisiana and the company for which he works is Total Transportation of Mississippi.

It’s unclear when GSP will be done with its investigation and turn it over to the District Attorney’s office at that time Cheeley hopes to know more about what the driver told investigators he was doing when he collided with the first vehicle.

WSBTV