Georgia Police Still Searching for Woman Accused of Fatally Hitting an Older Man and his Dog

Authorities in Barrow County are looking for the owner of a vehicle found at the scene of a crime. Deputies found Sandy Wilson's silver Infiniti but have yet to track her down. She currently has active warrants for the following charges:

• Reckless Driving in Georgia
• Failure to Maintain Lane in Georgia
• Driving Too Fast for Conditions in Georgia
• Hit-and-Run in Georgia
• Vehicular Homicide in Georgia

Wilson has been accused of fatally hitting 66-year-old Marvin Barnes and his dog off of Jefferson Road in Barrow County. 

This case is tragic, and Wilson is facing many different charges, but as a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I will focus today's post on reckless driving.

Reckless Driving in Georgia

The Georgia Code defines Reckless Driving in Georgia as:

Any person who drives any vehicle in reckless disregard for the safety of persons or property commits the offense of reckless driving. Every person convicted of reckless driving shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $1,000.00 or imprisonment not to exceed 12 months, or by both such fine and imprisonment, provided that no provision of this Code section shall be construed so as to deprive the court imposing the sentence of the power given by law to stay or suspend the execution of such sentence or to place the defendant on probation. O.C.G.A. §40-6-390.

As you can see, Georgia Law on reckless driving is broad and far-reaching. The traffic violation of reckless driving is a common charge and is considered a very serious charge by the state of Georgia. 

The penalties for a reckless driving conviction are serious as a result. A conviction for reckless driving is 4 points on an individual's driving record. Examples of reckless driving include:

• Driving at high speeds
• Weaving
• Tailgating
• Illegal passing
• Distracted driving

This list is by no means comprehensive. Ultimately, it is the officer's discretion about the observed driving that is the decision-maker. 

Practice Note

The woman in this story is facing a great number of charges and is looking at some very severe consequences. Right now, her location is still unknown, and the county is reaching out to the public to get help finding her. 

If you or a loved one has been arrested and is facing severe consequences, contact us today. We handle serious traffic cases such as DUI in Georgia and can help you with your case. Contact a Georgia DUI Attorney today.