GSP releases final report on death of Marquella Hicks

By Walter GeigerThe Georgia State Patrol has issued its final report on the death of Marquella Shanana Hicks who was struck and killed by a motorist just after 2 a.m. Nov. 25 on Johnstonville Road.The report by Trooper N.A. Truitt notes Hicks, 23, was emotionally upset, wearing dark clothing and ‘˜improperly’ in the roadway in front of her home at 411 Johnstonville Rd. when she was struck by a 1987 Chevy passenger van.The van was owned by Curtis Banks, 63 of 185 Lanette Circle, who was in the passenger seat, and driven by his wife, 65-year-old Elizabeth Banks of the same address, when it struck Hicks at 2:08 a.m. Elizabeth Banks was not charged.In addition to those in the van, there were multiple other witnesses to the impact, including 26-year-old Kristopher Jackson of 906 Forsyth-Yatesville Rd. who was described in the report as Hicks’ boyfriend. Jackson told troopers he was sitting in his car arguing with Hicks who was standing in the roadway at his window. He drove off, turning around at Walton Road and was driving back toward Hicks who was standing in the eastbound lane.Jackson watched as Hicks was struck by the van.Other witnesses included Frederick Walker Jr., 23, of 115 Sardis St., who was a passenger in Jackson’s car. Christopher Prince Evans, 35, of 169 Lanette Circle was driving his vehicle behind the Banks’ van and confirmed Hicks was in the roadway when struck.Hicks’ brother, 30-year-old Frisco James Bradley, also lived at the home at 411 Johnstonville Rd. He watched the impact from the driveway there and confirmed his sister was standing in the road. Solita Shuntae Mitchell, 27, of 191 Deerfield Trace was also standing in the driveway and confirmed Hicks was in the roadway when struck.The report noted that Jackson was emotional when he talked to officers.An ambulance was summoned at 2:14 a.m. and arrived at 2:20 a.m. It took Hicks to Spalding Regional Medical Center at 2:56 a.m. She was pronounced dead seven minutes later.No toxicology testing was done on Hicks or Banks, according to the report.