Georgia Police Still Searching for Multiple Suspects Accused of Fatal Hit and Run

At the end of last month, a young woman, Danna Rodriguez, was hit by several unknown vehicles and killed early in the morning on February 27th.

According to reports, she was hit by several cars on I-285. Police are still searching and looking for the multiple suspects that allegedly left her to die. There are many questions that officers and investigators still have including why Rodriguez was on foot in the middle of I-285 and why no one stopped to help her after she was hit.

Police have the remnants of at least two vehicles, however, they have no released any details to the case. As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I am very familiar with offenses such as a hit and run and vehicular homicide in Georgia. In today's post, I will focus on hit and run and dive into what Georgia law requires if a driver is involved in an accident.

Hit and Run in Georgia

A driver commits the offense of hit and run in Georgia when he or she neglects to obey the following instructions if involved in an accident.

O.C.G.A. §40-6-270 outlines the law behind hit and run as:

(a) The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or the death of any person or in damage to a vehicle which is driven or attended by any person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of the accident or shall stop as close thereto as possible and forthwith return to the scene of the accident and shall:

(1) Give his or her name and address and the registration number of the vehicle he or she is driving;

(2) Upon request and if it is available, exhibit his or her operator's license to the person struck or the driver or occupant of or person attending any vehicle collided with;

(3) Render to any person injured in such accident reasonable assistance, including the transporting, or the making of arrangements for the transporting, of such person to a physician, surgeon, or hospital for medical or surgical treatment if it is apparent that such treatment is necessary or if such transporting is requested by the injured person; and

(4) Where a person injured in such accident is unconscious, appears deceased, or is otherwise unable to communicate, make every reasonable effort to ensure that emergency medical services and local law enforcement are contacted for the purpose of reporting the accident and making a request for assistance. The driver shall in every event remain at the scene of the accident until fulfilling the requirements of this subsection. Every such stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.

According to Georgia Law, if a hit and run accident is the proximate cause of death or a serious injury, then the driver will be facing a serious felony charge. The penalty can include up to five years in prison.

Practice Note

Hit and run is a very serious traffic offense that can have even harsher penalties than a DUI in Georgia. If convicted of hit and run, many times there will be no limited permit to drive.

Hit and run is a crime of specific intent - meaning that by law, the driver has to specifically decide to leave the scene of an accident.

If you or a loved one has been accused of committing a criminal offense, contact a Georgia DUI Attorney today.