Thomson, GA — A 58-year-old man, identified as Robert Butler Jr. of Thomson, died early Monday morning following a high-speed pursuit and a subsequent crash. The incident unfolded around 6 a.m. on Dallas Drive, when deputies from McDuffie County initiated a chase after responding to a reported armed robbery involving Butler.
The pursuit began shortly after 5:45 a.m. when Butler, the suspect, attempted to flee after deputies attempted a traffic stop. Authorities said that during the chase, Butler lost control of his vehicle on a curve, causing it to overturn. He was ejected from the vehicle and landed in a nearby ditch. One deputy stopped in the eastbound lane to avoid a collision, while the other veered into the ditch, where his patrol car ended up resting on top of Butler. Emergency responders arrived but pronounced him dead at the scene at 6:45 a.m.
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The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) was called to the original robbery scene, where Butler was confirmed as the suspect. The Georgia State Patrol also assisted with the crash investigation. An autopsy is scheduled for later this week at the Georgia State Crime Lab to determine the exact cause of death.
Further details regarding the armed robbery have not been released, and the investigation remains ongoing.