The Georgia woman accused of causing a deadly car accident while fleeing from deputies last week has been charged in the death of a 51-year-old woman from Jonesboro. The charges brought against the driver by the Georgia State Patrol include drunk driving, first-degree vehicular homicide, serious injury by vehicle, duty to stop at an accident, felony fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, failure to maintain lane, reckless driving, following too closely, and failure to drive on the right-hand side of the road. If you have suffered serious injuries in an alleged DUI accident in Georgia, or if you lost a loved one in a fatal drunk driving wreck, contact our knowledgeable DUI accident lawyers at Rechtman & Spevak today, to explore your possible compensation options.
Driver Allegedly Involved in Hit-and-Run Accident
According to the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO), deputies first came into contact with 39-year-old Kidistz Temesgen’s vehicle when dispatch reported that a hit-and-run accident had taken place at the Texaco gas station on Sigman Road. One of the victims of the hit and run told police that a woman who appeared to be intoxicated was driving a Hyundai SUV when she struck two vehicles in the parking lot of the gas station and then left the scene. A deputy on his way to the Sheriff’s Office then saw Temesgen’s vehicle traveling on Sigman Road toward Ga. Highway 138 on the wrong side of the road, heading directly for his vehicle. “Once he realized the vehicle was not going to swerve over, he had to run into a ditch to avoid colliding with it,” said RCSO Cpl. Michael Camp.
Numerous Vehicles Involved in Alleged DUI Accident
At that point, the deputy turned around and began to pursue Temesgen’s vehicle, and the 39-year-old fled from the patrol car, traveling at speeds between 65 and 95 miles per hour. As the Hyundai SUV approached Chambers Drive, the deputy saw the vehicle hit the railroad tracks at about 95 miles per hour and fly through the air. When the deputy approached the railroad tracks, he saw the aftermath of the collision of Temesgen’s SUV with four other vehicles, including two RCSO patrol cars that were watching out for the fleeing SUV.
According to the Georgia State Patrol, which also responded to the scene of the alleged drunk driving accident, when Temesgen came over the railroad tracks, she struck a 2013 Kia Optima that was stopped at a traffic light on Sigman Road. The Kia then struck a Chevrolet Silverado that was waiting to make a left turn off of Sigman Road onto Old Covington Highway, as well as a stationary RCSO patrol car facing south on Old Covington Highway. Temesgen’s SUV also struck another stationary RCSO patrol car facing east and blocking off Old Covington Highway in the southbound left turn lane.
Our Qualified DUI Accident Lawyers Can Help
The driver of the Kia Optima, 51-year-old Yuwadee Theerakanok, suffered fatal injuries in the collision, and her 52-year-old male passenger was airlifted to Grady Memorial Hospital with serious injuries. The 33-year-old female driver of the Silverado was transported to Rockdale Medical Center for treatment, along with an RCSO deputy who suffered injuries in the alleged drunk driving accident. If you have been injured in a drunk driving accident in Atlanta, Marietta, or elsewhere in Georgia, consult our reputable DUI accident attorneys at Rechtman & Spevak for legal help. You may have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit against the person found at-fault in the accident, in order to pursue financial compensation for your injuries and medical bills.
