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Man hit by car during dispute is in critical condition

A week after he was flown by a Lifeflight helicopter to a Tallahassee hospital for treatment, a Cairo man remains in critical condition. Blair Chastain is being treated after he was hit by a car on Second Avenue N.E. in Cairo on Wednesday, July 30.
According to Cairo Police Chief Keith Sandefur, charges have not been filed in the incident. Sandefur says the case will be presented to a Grady County Grand Jury to allow a group of peers to decide whether any charges should be lodged.
Witnesses said Chastain, 23, had argued with another man, Joseph Cody Kearns, on July 30, around 2:23 p.m., when he was struck by the car.
Kearns, 25, had stopped his 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix at a stop sign on Second Avenue N.E. at its intersection with Fourth Street N.E., when Chastain allegedly pulled up beside him in a 2008 Nissan Altima, pulled into the oncoming traffic lane and stopped alongside. With windows down, the drivers reportedly argued from their respective cars. At one point, Chastain got out of his car and walked over to Kearns’ driver’s side window. Kearns was backing up his car when Chastain struck him in the face with his fist, according to an accident report filed by Cairo Police.
The force of the blow caused Kearns’ nose to bleed and broke his glasses, which cut into his face. Stunned and bleeding, Kearns tried to get away, and accelerated quickly in reverse.
A woman in the passenger seat of the Altima told police she heard the men arguing, and then heard the revving of the Grand Prix engine, but did not see the Pontiac strike Chastain.
According to the police report, Chastain was still in the driver’s window area, when the car reversed quickly. The car’s side view mirror struck Chastain and was broken off the car by the force of the blow, the report states.
Witnesses said Chastain was struck by the car, thrown back several feet into the air then landed on his head.
A passerby called 911 to report the incident at 2:23 p.m.
Chastain was flown to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital for treatment of serious injuries, according to  Cairo Police Investigator Giovanni Santos. On Tuesday, the hospital had him listed in critical condition.
Kearns was taken to Grady General Hospital for injuries to his face following the incident, Investigator Santos said. Kearns was not listed as a patient at Grady General on Tuesday, and was likely treated for his injuries and allowed to go home for further recovery. Patient privacy rules prevent the hospital from disclosing such information.
Due to the nature of the incident, Cairo Police did not lodge any charges in the case, but will present it to the next Grand Jury to decide whether a trial should be held.

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