Man died possibly en route to Athens hospital with self-inflicted gunshot wound

By Joe Johnson

The body of a man was found in his pickup truck early Wednesday morning in northwestern Athens-Clarke County, where he possibly died while driving to the hospital with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Casey Roy Hobbs, 32, of Colbert, was deceased in a Dodge Ram pickup that a police officer found stopped on Jefferson Road near Kathwood Drive.

According to a police report, Hobbs had been shot by a bullet that entered his lower abdomen area, exited his leg and then struck the driver’s side door.

Police said it appeared that a 9mm pistol that was found on the floorboard of the pickup had been in the man's waistband when it accidentally discharged.

An autopsy was to be performed at the State Crime Lab.