In Georgia, vehicular manslaughter charges can be some of the most serious charges a driver can face. It is one of those charges that can be prosecuted either as a felony or as a misdemeanor. It all depends upon the circumstances of the crash and the criminal history of the driver.
In cases where the crash occurred because the driver broke one of Georgia’s traffic laws, such as speeding, the charge may be a misdemeanor. However, if the driver was driving recklessly, DUI, attempting to pass a school bus, fleeing from police, or committed a hit-and-run, it may be charged as a felony.
The Chattanooga Free Times Press reports that an 85-year-old Georgia man and a suspected car thief were killed in a Catoosa County crash.
The crash occurred as a result of a high-speed chase on Thursday at about 11:30 p.m. in Catoosa County.
The Georgia State Patrol was notified by Ringgold Police of a stolen Ford Mustang that had been taken from the Circle K on Battlefield Parkway and I-75. Deputies spotted the stolen vehicle at Battlefield Parkway and Smitherman Road.
When deputies attempted to pull the driver over, a chase ensued. The driver of the vehicle sped off onto Interstate 75 and reached speeds of over 100 m.p.h.
As the driver was fleeing, he attempted to change lanes and struck a Dodge Ram pickup truck in the middle lane. The impact from the collision caused the pickup truck the veer left, across the median, and into southbound lanes.
The pickup truck then rolled three and a half times before coming to a rest. The 85-year-old driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Mustang was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. He was also pronounced dead at the scene.
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