According to reports from the Georgia State Patrol, 44-year-old Misti Kirkland of Rome died in the crash. The accident occurred around 7:30 a.m. in the westbound lane of Highway 411. A 2015 Ram pickup truck, driven by 41-year-old Martina Nanette Couey of Cartersville was traveling westbound. A 2017 Ford F350, driven by 36-year-old Kenneth Nathaniel Ritchie of Rome and a 2011 Kia Soul, driven by Misti Kirkland were both travelling eastbound. Troopers say that Couey was travelling driving too fast for conditions and failed to maintain her lane. The Ram truck traveled across the median into the eastbound lanes, struck the Ford F350. Couey’s truck began travelling west in the eastbound lanes and struck the Kia Soul. The Ram truck and the Kia traveled off the south shoulder of Highway 411 came to a final rest.
Charges are pending. The GSP Specialized Collison Reconstruction Team is conducting a follow-up investigation.