A DeKalb man cried in court as he listened to the judge read off a laundry list of charges stemming from a tragic crash on Sunday that killed one of his daughters and critically injured another. According to CBS 46, 35-year-old Anthony Johnson was allegedly driving under the influence with his four children in the car when he lost control of the Chrysler Pacifica and crashed. One of his children, 15-year-old Corliss, was killed in the crash. Another daughter, 11-year-old Joy, remains critically injured with possible brain damage at Children’s Healthcare at Egleston. Johnson’s two sons, aged 8 and 9, were injured in the crash but not seriously.
According to police, Johnson allegedly lost control of his vehicle while driving on U.S. 78 near Howell Road and crashed into the tree line. After the crash he could not find his phone, so he took his two sons and walked three miles to a Gwinnett County diner to get help. He then explained to 911 that he believed his two daughters were deceased in the back seat, although in reality only one was. Mere hours later, Johnson was arrested for DUI.
Johnson has been charged with driving under the influence (DUI), vehicular homicide in the first degree, failure to maintain lane, and endangering the life of a child while driving under the influence. Johnson reportedly had two previous arrests for DUI, one in April of 2002 and the other in September of 2004. Georgia DUI laws allow for a license suspension for up to a year for the first offense and a license suspension of three years for a second offense. Driving under the influence is a serious problem in the United States. In 2010, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that there were 9,337 alcohol-impaired driving fatal crashes that killed a total of 10,228 people.
If you have been injured in an accident where a driver was under the influence, you may have legal recourse. A quality attorney can help determine who is at fault for a DUI accident, and who is liable to pay for the damages to person and property. To receive a consultation from a highly-experienced Atlanta DUI accident lawyer, fill out the no-cost, no-obligation case review form on the right. Do not hesitate to discuss your unique situation and learn about your potential legal rights.
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