Charges Reduced In Fatal Crash in Barrow County, Georgia
A local high school teacher, once facing felony charges stemming from a fatal crash in Barrow County that killed two, now faces reduced charges. The accident occurred in March of 2016 and killed a young man and young woman. The families of the deceased told news reporters that the charges levied against the teacher had been reduced by the district attorney's office to two misdemeanor charges. Now the distraught families of the victims wonder whether justice will be done for their two family members whose lives were tragically cut short.
A teacher from Loganville High School was indicted for driving under the influence and motor vehicle homicide charges for the crash. The initial investigation revealed that she was while drunk. The breathalyzer result obtained from a sample of her breath indicated that she was drunk at the time of the crash. Now, the Georgia Bureau of Investigations has informed the prosecutor's office that a sample of the teacher's blood taken shortly after the crash proves she had no alcohol in her system at all. Consequently, the newly discovered evidence forced the prosecutor's office to reduce the charges.
The crash was a horrific scene. Police alleged that the teacher, suspected to be intoxicated at the time of the crash, ran a red light and plowed into the vehicle occupied by a 41-year-old woman and a 36-year-old man. Both succumbed to their injuries at the scene of the crash. A third person was in the car and survived the wreck. The 24-year-old teacher was alleged to have driven her 2012 Kia Sorrento, through a red light and into the driver's side door of a Ford Mustang. The teacher was headed north, crossing state road 316 when she plowed into the Mustang. The crash occurred before dawn on March 19, 2016.
The families of the two people killed voiced concerns that the teacher will not suffer any imprisonment for her actions. A sister of the 41-year-old woman told reporters that she feels like she is failing her sister for somehow allowing the teacher to "get away with it." The distraught woman also said that she was powerless to do anything. But, she added, she believed the district attorney's office could do something.
The sister of the deceased woman told reporters that the district attorney's office said that it was unlikely the teacher would face any jail time now that test results have exonerated her, to an extent. Prosecutors allegedly told the family that it was unlikely any judge would include any jail time despite allegedly driving through a red light and slamming into a car with such devastating force that the impact left two dead at the scene. The district attorney's office would not release the results derived from Georgia Bureau of Investigation testing, citing the on-going prosecution prevents them from doing so. The district attorney's office did not say what charges the teacher now faces nor did she address why the breathalyzer test yielded a positive result, while the blood test proved the exact opposite fact.
Losing a family member in such a tragic, sudden, and senseless manner is devastating. Frustration, anger, grief, and disbelief are all natural emotions people feel after tragically losing a loved one. No amount of money can replace the loved one. However, fighting to hold people responsible for their actions in criminal court and with a wrongful death claim can help bring about closure for victims' loved ones.
Put Our Law Firm's Over 39 Years Of Legal Experience To Work For Your Case!
If you have been injured in any accident caused by someone else's negligence, call Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law for your free consultation today. Montlick & Associates has been representing those who suffer serious injuries throughout all of Georgia and in the Southeast for over 39 years, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state.
No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour live chat.
Source: http://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/georgia-teacher-gets-charges-reduced-deadly-dui-crash/rwzAjHo3H0MVXcVbVWUmbL/
Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law
17 Executive Park Dr NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
Telephone: 1 (800) LAW-NEED
Telephone: 1 (404) 529-6333
Open: 24 hours, 7 Days a Week