A 25-year-old Hazlehurst man was indicted on Feb. 5 for several crimes including first-degree vehicular homicide, driving under the influence of drugs and serious injury by a vehicle. He was also indicted for various traffic-related offenses. These charges stemmed from the young man’s alleged involvement in causing a fatal crash that occurred in June along Gordon Highway in Augusta.
According to police, the 37-year-old decedent had been driving his Ford Escape down Doug Barnard Parkway in the direction of its intersection with Gordon Highway just before 1:25 a.m. on June 2. The light was red when he arrived at the crossroads so he stopped.
It’s around that same time that the defendant, who’d been driving his Nissan Titan at the time, fast approached the same intersection. Crash scene investigators determined that he must have been traveling so quickly that it caused him to lose control of his truck and collide with a nearby guardrail. The impact of the crash sent the Nissan careening into the Ford before causing the vehicle to rollover. The Ford’s driver died instantly.
The defendant was initially charged with the various offenses included in the indictment following his release from the hospital for his injuries in July. A judge had released him on a $30,000 bond at the time.
At his Feb. 5 hearing, he reportedly told a judge that he works in Augusta for Plant Vogtle. He also said that he’s married, has a child and graduated high school.
Police and prosecutors have yet to disclose what the toxicology report said about the types of drugs that were found in his system when he was arrested.
When people hear about serious motor vehicle accidents having occurred, they often envision a motorcyclist having been struck by a car or a motorist having been hit by a tractor-trailer. The truth is that drivers who are drugged or drunk are some of the most dangerous motorists on the road. They often speed, lose control of their vehicles and kill their victims.
Fortunately, Georgia’s legal system allows for the family members of those who have lost their lives in these types of senseless crashes to file wrongful death lawsuits against the negligent party. A motor vehicle accidents attorney can advise you of your right to recover compensation for your loved one’s funeral costs, lost future wages, loss of companionship and other damages in your case.