An Atlanta man has been arrested and charged after running over and killing a woman on Saturday morning and then leaving the scene.
Police officers responded to the accident on southwest Atlanta’s Campbellton Road shortly before 6:30 a.m.
Spokesman Sgt. John Chafee said when officers arrived, they found a deceased female who appeared to have been struck by a vehicle.
Eyewitnesses said the woman was crossing the road near Myrtle Drive when a Chevrolet Tahoe struck her.
One witness, Finis Rankin, said he was waiting for a bus when he heard a loud crash and saw the woman flying through the air. He reported that she flipped twice then hit the ground while the driver continued down the street.
While the police were collecting evidence, the driver, 72-year-old Benjamin Sims, arrived back at the scene.
Sgt. Chafee said Sims indicated that he did not know he had struck a pedestrian at first. The elderly man said he went home, parked his vehicle and returned to the scene on foot when he realized what happened.
Police arrested Sims and charged him with hit-and-run, homicide by vehicle, and driving with a suspended license. He was set to be booked into Fulton County Jail.
The authorities have not released the name or any other details about the woman who was killed.
If Sims is found guilty of first-degree vehicular homicide, he could spend up to 15 years in prison. However, if he is considered a habitual violator, his prison sentence could be up to 20 years.
Habitual violators are motorists who have been found guilty of three or more serious traffic crimes within five years. These crimes include driving under the influence, reckless driving, vehicular homicide, hit and run, fleeing an officer, and felonies involving a motor vehicle.
If you’ve lost a loved one in an accident or suffered injuries, seek legal advice from a Georgia auto accident attorney.
Source: https://www.ajc.com/news/crime–law/driver-charged-after-killing-pedestrian-leaving-scene-atlanta-police-say/8pPxZacsZiWszsYM4hhb2O/
