Questions surround Moultrie man’s death:  K-9 bite or car accident?

By Carol A. Gasser Moore

COLQUITT COUNTY, Georgia – Kevin Kennedy (44) died on Tuesday, August 27 while in a Macon hospital. Kennedy is reported to have been in critical concision for five days before he died.  In order to determine the cause of injuries leading to his death, the Colquitt County Coroner Verlyn Brock is scheduled to perform an autopsy.  The autopsy is needed to determine which injuries suffered prior to his death, led to Kennedy’s death on Tuesday.

On Thursday, August 22, E911 records show that the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) began a pursuit of an ATV in Colquitt County about 2:35 p.m.  The ATV’s driver was reported as dressed wearing a white shirt and Khaki pants as well as a bandana.  Within about 10 minutes, the GSP called for Emergency Medical Service (EMS) assistance because of a dog bite.

Three events are reported to have happened to Kennedy while driving a 4-wheeler:

• ATV driver was pursued by GSP when the driver turned left in front of a pursuing patrol vehicle and struck the patrol vehicle’s bumper
• ATV driver’s response to bumper collision was to flee from GSP on foot
• ATV driver was bit by the GSP trooper’s K-9 after the brief foot pursuit

According to E911, EMS was notified for the injuries that the subject, Kennedy, sustained from the K-9 bite. Kennedy was transported for treatment to Macon’s Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center.

There has been a report by Kennedy’s family that his critical injuries may have led to one of his arms being amputated. There have also been statements that the dog bit Kennedy in the neck.

While media has reported that the ATV driver was pursued because of a possible stolen ATV, that point has not yet been confirmed.  The GSP has stated the 4-wheeler Kennedy was driving was not stolen.

The Colquitt County Coroner will determine whether or Kennedy’s death was related to the vehicle collision, the K-9 bite or some other yet-to-be identified cause.

Note, neither the GSP, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), nor any other first responder agency has issued a statement on the nature of Kennedy’s injuries.

This is a developing story.