Two people remain hospitalized after Friday night’s freak accident in Rockmart when an elderly man hit four pedestrians and several cars following a downtown fireworks display.
According to Rockmart Police Chief Keith Sorrells, a 76-year-old man got into his pickup truck in the parking lot next to the former United Bank building and then rapidly accelerated, striking Jeremy Wheeler and Billy Hitchcock, both Rockmart residents. Sorrells said the pickup hit several vehicles and grazed two other teenagers before striking a building. They were not injured, according to police.
Wheeler was transported to Floyd Medical Center in Rome and is expected to recover from his injuries, according to person close to the situation. Hitchcock was airlifted to Atlanta Medical Center and was initially in critical condition, but family members say he is improving.
The Georgia State Patrol’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team was called in to investigate and a final report has not been released.