Alcohol Suspected in Wrong-Way Driver’s Fatal Accident

A wrong-way driver on Georgia Highway 400 in Forsyth County hit a vehicle head-on early Sunday morning, killing the wrong-way driver and critically injuring another. Police believe the wrong-way driver, Maria Gonzales, 21, of Cumming, was intoxicated during the incident, according to AccessWDUN, a local news outlet.

Police said that 9-1-1 dispatchers began receiving reports of a vehicle traveling southbound in the northbound lane of Highway 400 early Sunday morning. Shortly thereafter, police arrived at the scene where Gonzales’s Honda Accord had collided with a Nissan Exterra head-on. The driver of the Exterra, Ashely Held, 27, of Cumming was flown by helicopter to Grady Memorial Hospital, where she was listed in serious condition Sunday afternoon.

Events like these highlight the danger of death and serious injury that drunk driving poses to our society. Every two minutes a person is injured in an alcohol-related crash in this country, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Crashes involving drunk drivers pose a myriad number of legal issues, including criminal consequences in criminal courts and punitive damages in the civil courts. If you or a loved one has have been injured by a drunk driver, you may be entitled to civil damages and should speak to an attorney immediately.

The attorneys at Jarrett & Price offer free consultations and are usually available to meet with you the same day you call. Call (912) 401-8880 to speak with one of our attorneys.