Alleged DUI Driver Hits Georgia State Patrol Officer in Downtown Atlanta

According to reports, a GSP (Georgia State Patrol) trooper was hit by a vehicle early this morning on the Downtown Connector.

The driver of the vehicle, Davianne Gray, was arrested for DUI in Georgia. Gray as well as as the three passengers in his SUV were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital in downtown with injuries.

Along with a charge of DUI, Gray is most likely also facing charges of serious injury by vehicle in Georgia, and as a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I will explain that vehicular offense in today's post.

Serious Injury by Vehicle in Georgia

Serious Injury by Vehicle in Georgia is defined by the Georgia Code in O.C.G.A. §40-6-394 as:

Whoever, without malice, shall cause bodily harm to another by depriving him of a member of his body, by rendering a member of his body useless, by seriously disfiguring his body or a member thereof, or by causing organic brain damage which renders the body or any member thereof useless through the violation of Code Section 40-6-390 or 40-6-391 shall be guilty of the crime of serious injury by vehicle. A person convicted under this Code section shall be guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than 15 years.

This law means that regardless of the intent of the driver, if the driver causes another person bodily harm by DUI driving or reckless driving in Georgia, then the individual can face up to 15 years of prison time.

Practice Note

Most DUI cases in Georgia are classified as misdemeanors - however, additional offenses such as serious injury by vehicle can lead to harsher Georgia DUI Penalties. If the DUI results in the serious injury or death of another individual (vehicular homicide in Georgia,) then the accused driver (if found convicted) is facing a serious felony.

If you or a loved one has been arrested in Georgia for a serious traffic offense or violation, please contact our offices today. A Georgia DUI Attorney can help you with your case as it needs to be handled with the utmost care and seriousness.