Authorities believe texting and driving contributed to a fatal wreck on Highway 140 around a half-mile from Highway 27 north on Tuesday.  The Georgia State Patrol has charged the driver of the dump truck involved in the crash with felony Homicide by Vehicle 1st Degree.

According to Floyd County Jail records, 36 year old Jesse Adam Ridgeway, from Muscadine, Georgia, is also charged with Texting while Driving, Driving on the Wrong Side of the Road, Driving on a Suspended or Revoked License, Reckless Driving and Having an Expired Tag.

According to Georgia State Patrol Trooper First Class Jeremy Battle, “What we have is a wreck involving a commercial motor vehicle and a small passenger car. The passenger car was traveling East on 140 and the commercial motor vehicle, which is a dump truck, was traveling West on 140. The preliminary investigation makes it look like the dump truck crossed the center line and sideswiped the passenger car. The car came to an uncontrolled final rest on the South shoulder of 140 and the dump truck came to an uncontrolled final rest on its side on the North shoulder.”

Chief Deputy Coroner Gene Procter has confirmed that 49-year-old William Chad Lance of Cedartown, who was the driver of the passenger vehicle (Acura), died due to multiple blunt force trauma injuries from a motor vehicle. 

He was pronounced dead at Redmond Regional Hospital at 5:52pm.

The body will be sent to the GBI Crime Lab for a fact-finding autopsy. 

(WRGA/www.wrgarome.com)