In Georgia, hit-and-run, also known as leaving the scene of an accident, is a serious crime. In some cases, a driver who leaves the scene of an accident without contacting police and exchanging information may face harsher penalties than a DUI. The seriousness of the charges will depend on the driver’s criminal record as well as whether injury or death resulted from the accident.
In cases where there was only property damage or minor injuries, the driver will be charged with a misdemeanor. In cases where the accident was the proximate cause of death or serious injury, the charge will be a felony. A misdemeanor conviction can hold a sentence of up to 12 months in county jail. A misdemeanor conviction can hold a term of one to five years in state prison.
11 Alive reports that a father and his 13-year-old son were the victims of a hit-and-run crash in Cumming.
Calls began coming in at around 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday about a hit-and-run accident involving two pedestrians on Kelly Mill Road.
An investigation revealed that an SUV failed to negotiate a curve on Kelly Mill Road. The vehicle drove over the curb and up onto the sidewalk, striking a 13-year-old boy who was walking on the edge of the sidewalk.
The boy’s father attempted to assist the boy and sustained an injury to his leg. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene. A short time later, police found an Infiniti QX56 with fresh front end damage on Jason Drive.
The child was airlifted to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta with serious injuries. The father was also transported to a hospital.
Charges are pending against the driver of the SUV, but no information on the suspect was released.
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