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When Georgia enacted its hands-free laws, state officials made it a traffic offense to drive while texting. Otherwise known as distracted driving, operating a motor vehicle while using a cell phone is now a primary offense. In addition to the texting while driving citation, if the driver is in an accident, it can lead to another charge. This charge is known as “failure to exercise due care.” When charged with this, a driver may face fines and fees as well as receive points on their drive’rs license. The accumulation of too many points within a certain time frame can lead to the suspension of the person’s driver’s license.
WALB reports that a suspect in a fatal December accident has been arrested on charges.
28-year-old Zachary Harhausen was arrested on Wednesday in connection with a double-fatality accident that occurred on December 15th.
On December 15, 2019, Valdosta police officers and firefighters responded to the scene of an accident at the intersection of South Patterson Street and Madison Highway. When they arrived on the scene, they determined that both occupants inside one of the vehicles were deceased.
After investigations at the scene, the VPD Traffic Unit determined that Harhausen was driving north on South Patterson Street. He crossed over the center line and into oncoming traffic.
He hit the victim’s vehicle, which was attempting to make a left from Madison Highway onto South Patterson.
Evidence led police to charge Harhausen with two counts of vehicular homicide, DUI, failure to exercise due care, failure to obey a traffic sign, and failure to maintain lane.
Harhausen surrendered himself to the Valdosta Police Department.
