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Motorcyclists family retains an attorney
Charges, if any, may be three months off
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The family of a Dawsonville man killed last month when his motorcycle struck a county maintenance truck has retained legal counsel to review the collision.

  

Joey Homans, who represents the Dawson County commission, said the county received what he described as a precursor to a claim from the office of Law and Moran in Atlanta.

  

William Buchanan “Buck” Chapman, 23, died from injuries in the June 15 crash that involved a county vehicle near Hwy. 9 and Recreation Road.

  

Homans said the notification asked the county to preserve the maintenance truck and trailer as evidence in the case.

  

“Hopefully, we can set up a time when we can meet with them [this] week,” Homans said.

  

The firm also requested information on the county’s insurance policies, as well as personnel records and training certificates on James “Jim” Ferrante.

  

According to authorities, the truck Ferrante, 41, was driving turned in front of Chapman’s motorcycle at the entrance to Veterans Memorial Park.

  

As of Tuesday afternoon, a spokeswoman for the Georgia State Patrol said no charges had been filed in connection with the wreck.

  

Homans said he was told it could be two to three months before the state patrol completes its investigation into the collision.

  

Ferrante, a facilities maintenance supervisor who has been employed with the county since 2004, took about two weeks off after the wreck.

  

“He returned to work on June 28 and was required to take a defensive driving course before he could drive any county vehicle,” said Jay Sessions, the county’s human resources director.

  

Messages left with Law and Moran seeking comment were not returned.