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Pickup rams car, police cruiser, kills one
0108 Charles W Martin
Charles Woodrow Martin, 39, of Cairo, was charged with homicide by vehicle, driving under the influence, two counts of hit and run leaving the scene of an accident and two counts of following too closely, according to the Ludowici Police Department. (Photo provided)

A Long County woman was killed and an off-duty Hinesville police officer had his car run off the road when a man rammed a pickup into the rear of two vehicles early today.
Georgia State Patrol Trooper Jerry Taylor said Charles W. Martin of Cairo was driving west on Elim Church Road a little past midnight when he rammed the back of a Hinesville Police Department sedan driven by K-9 officer Tony Durham several times, forcing it off the road. The officer, who was on his way home from work, had no known injuries.
Taylor said Martin continued toward Ludowici and also struck a 2008 Hyundai Elantra in the rear, forcing it off of the road and causing it to flip. A passenger, Long County resident Montiene McClard, 49, was thrown out. McClard's daughter, Amanda Kane, 28, was driving. The mother was pronounced dead at the scene.
Long County/Ludowici Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Richard Truman said Kane was taken by ambulance to Liberty Regional Medical Center to be treated for minor injuries.
Taylor said a chase developed and Martin was stopped on Highway 84 in Ludowici by officers of the Ludowici Police Department and Long County Sheriff's Office. He was taken to Ludowici Jail and has been charged with DUI and vehicular homicide.
Durham's vehicle took down a power pole, knocking out power to several areas in Ludowici and Long County. Georgia Power linemen were still restoring power at 7:30 a.m.
There will be a more complete story in Sunday's Coastal Courier.

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