Several Suspects Wanted in North Atlanta Hit and Run

Atlanta Capitol Building

Atlanta, Ga. - According to reports out of North Atlanta, a handful of suspects are wanted by authorities in what ended up being a fatal hit and run collision. 

The incident reportedly started with a collision on Georgia 400 North. A couple of people stopped to help the driver of that vehicle along with his passengers. As they were making their way out of the wrecked car, another vehicle struck the driver of the originally wrecked car.

That driver then autocorrect and ended up hitting the helping car. He then drove off leaving the injured man in the roadway along with the injured passengers. The injured man ended up being declared dead at the scene of the multiple collisions. The status of the injured passengers is unknown as of now. 

The driver is facing charges of vehicular homicide, serious injury by vehicle, hit and run, and reckless driving. As an Atlanta DUI Lawyer, I will outline one of the charges - vehicular homicide. 

Vehicular Homicide in Atlanta

Georgia law O.C.G.A. §40-6-393 outlines the two different degrees of vehicular homicide in Atlanta.

A person will be charged with first-degree vehicular homicide when, without malice aforethought, a death is caused by the person either unlawfully passing a school bus, reckless driving, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, or leaving the scene of the accident. 

Second-degree vehicular homicide occurs when death results due to a violation of any other statute other than the ones specified for homicide in the first degree. 

In simple terms, second-degree vehicular homicide happens when a death is the result of a violation of basic traffic laws. Conviction of a misdemeanor vehicular homicide charge may warrant a sentence from a Georgia judge up to one year. An example of how this can happen is a death as a result of a speeding violation, failure to maintain lane, or following too closely.  If someone is unfortunately killed as a result of regular traffic offenses, they can be charged with misdemeanor vehicular homicide.

First-degree vehicular homicide charge occurs when a death is the result of DUI or reckless driving. Convictions of felony-grade vehicular homicide may warrant up to 15 years in prison. 

Practice Note

If charged with a serious traffic-related crime, call our offices now. An Atlanta DUI Attorney can help you now.