Published: November 06, 2009 06:58 pm      

Man struck by car in Varnell dies

A man who had lost a dollhouse out of his vehicle and was trying to retrieve it from the roadway was struck and killed by a passing motorist in Varnell Thursday night, authorities said.

Russell Johnson, 23, of 3436 Discovery Lane in Dalton, was on Ga. Highway 2 near the entrance to Varnell Elementary School, said a Georgia State Patrol operator. The operator said Johnson died in the ambulance on the way to Hamilton Medical Center. Whitfield 911 reported receiving the call at 9:24 p.m.

The accident is still under investigation. No charges had been filed against the driver, who has not been named, as of Friday evening. The investigating trooper was unavailable Friday afternoon.