Mechanic pursuing his stolen tow truck dies in crash while chasing suspect, GA cops say
An auto mechanic crashed and died while chasing a tow truck stolen from his north Georgia home, state troopers say.
Troopers responded around 4:30 a.m. on April 24 to a two-vehicle wreck on State Route 286 in Murray County, according to Georgia State Patrol.
Investigators said a 47-year-old man stole a 1995 Ford Rollback tow truck from a home in nearby Whitfield County. The truck’s owner, 29-year-old Kenneth Lee Hawkins, got into his Dodge Ram pickup and chased after the suspect.
At some point, the two trucks collided, troopers said. Hawkins died at the scene.
Authorities did not say what caused the wreck.
Dubbed “The Mustang Man,” Hawkins owned his own garage and loved all things cars and mechanics, according to his obituary.
“Kenneth never met a stranger and would go above and beyond to help anyone in need ...” it reads in part. “He loved Ford Mustangs, drag racing, restoring classic cars, Deer and Turkey hunting, fishing and of course working on any cars.”
The man accused of stealing Hawkins’ tow truck was taken to a hospital with severe injuries, state troopers said. His condition wasn’t known as of April 27.
Police didn’t release additional details and said the investigation is ongoing.
Hawkins’ funeral is set for Saturday, April 29, his obituary says.
“A life not fully lived, but only God knows how long we have on this old earth,” his family said in his obituary. “It is going to be hard doing the rest of our lives here without him.”
Murray County is about 90 miles northwest of Atlanta.
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