By Mark Woolsey
[ The Cobb County Courier has a policy of withholding the names of survivors involved in traffic incidents that are still under investigation]
Cobb Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a pair of fatal collisions this week.
Police say that early Tuesday a Ford 250 truck was eastbound on Barrett Parkway near the intersection with Crater Lake Drive. Police identified the driver as 63-year-old Michael Gibbons of Kennesaw. At the same time, a 2017 White Volkswagen Jetta was also eastbound on Barrett and to the left of the Ford, with a 29-year-old man at the wheel.
Police say they don’t know why, but the Ford veered out of its lane and collided with the right side of the Jetta. The truck then ran off the road and hit a tree.
Gibbons suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to Wellstar Kennestone hospital, where he died.
The second crash early Wednesday took the life of a person who was eastbound on Akers Mill Road trying to turn right on Cumberland Blvd. The blue 2014 Toyota Corolla failed to negotiate the turn and ran straight ahead into a concrete barrier.
That driver was badly injured and was taken to Kennestone as well, where he died from his injuries. Authorities have not released his name pending notification of next of kin.
Speed is believed to have been a contributing factor in that accident.
The STEP Unit
The STEP Unit, which investigates serious or fatal traffic crashes, is one of the Cobb County Police Department’s Special Operations units, and is described on the web page of the Cobb County Police Department as follows:
“The Selective Traffic Enforcement Unit is responsible for investigating all fatal traffic crashes, enforcement of traffic laws in those areas which analysis indicates an elevated amount of crashes.
“They are also responsible for the administration and execution of the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program.
“They also take part in special security details, and investigate crashes involving Department vehicles when requested.”
The STEP Unit is commanded by Lieutenant Lane Johnson.