Category: Driving News

Both a driver and his passenger are facing charges in a hit-and-run incident that killed an 18-year-old northwest Georgia man. 

Emory Ware was crossing a Whitfield County highway when he was hit by a passing vehicle, according to the Georgia State Patrol. A trooper responding to the crash early that morning found the teen’s body at the intersection of Ga. 3 and Maddox Chapel Road. 

The vehicle was gone by the time the trooper arrived. Evidence found at the scene pointed to a gray Buick Century, according to an accident report obtained by AJC.com.

The Buick was eventually traced to driver Eric Shane Moore. The 32-year-old was arrested on charges of homicide by vehicle in the first degree, hit-and-run and failure to report an accident resulting in death.

Moore, who is from Chatsworth, was driving on a suspended license at the time of the crash, authorities said. He is also facing charges of tampering with evidence and giving a false name to police.

Authorities are also seeking charges against Moore’s passenger, identified by the GSP as 32-year-old Nathan Joe Call of Dalton. Call was arrested on felony charges of tampering with evidence and hit-and-run.

Both men are being held in the Whitfield County Jail without bond.

Remember, when you are a pedestrian at night the last thing you want to do is blend in.  By wearing bright colors that easily reflect light, such as white or yellow, you will stand out and become far more visible to drivers.  This can also be accomplished by wearing reflectors often found on bicycles, helmets and reflective vests.  Reflectors can make you visible in a car’s headlights for up to 500 feet!

What Are Georgia’s Rules for Crossing Intersections? 

Pedestrians must cross intersections at a crosswalk. While most people consider a crosswalk as the pathway across the intersection denoted with white lines (i.e., a marked crosswalk), it is important to note that there are both marked and unmarked crosswalks.

An unmarked crosswalk is a line between one side of the roadway and the other. The only way this differs from a marked crosswalk is that there are no distinguishing marks.

If a pedestrian is in either a marked or unmarked crosswalk, he has the right-of-way. Drivers must yield to pedestrians already inside these crosswalks, regardless of whether the driver has a green light or not.

What Responsibilities Do Drivers Have?

According to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, motorists must stop and stay stopped for pedestrians at crosswalks. Drivers must stay put until the pedestrian has vacated the driver’s side of the road.

Georgia law also holds that a driver cannot overtake another motorist who has stopped for a pedestrian.

The same safe driving practices that are taught in A-1’s Defensive Driving Class can apply to be a safe driver in a car and on a motorcycle. There is a lot of very useful and informative information in the class and it will apply whether you have been driving for years or you are a brand new driver.

For more information about class schedules or to see A-1’s 19 convenient locations call (770)962-9555 or visit us at www.a1drivingschools.com!

A woman who recently appeared on an MTV reality show was arrested and charged with DUI.

Tyranny Todd, who appeared on MTV’s Are You The One?, was arrested by the Georgia State Patrol on a DUI charge and texting while driving charge in Augusta.

Todd was on the fifth season of the series, which takes a large group of single adults and charges them with finding the perfect match for them.

The bonus on top of finding “true love” is a $1 million cash prize that is split between the “perfect couple.”

Georgia State law requires clinical evaluation and the attendance of the DUI program that’s certified/licensed by the Georgia Department of Driver’s Services before your driver’s license can be reinstated if you have been charged with any of the following:

1. DUI
2. Drug Possession
3. Other drug offenses
4. Under-age possession of drugs or alcohol

Tyranny Todd will be able to complete this at any of A-1’s 19 convenient locations.

For more information visit www.a1drivingschools.com or call (770) 962-9555!

University of Georgia sophomore running back James Cook was arrested for having an open container of alcohol after police found an unsealed 1.75 liter glass bottle of Hennessy Cognac behind the driver’s seat of the 2017 Dodge Charger he was driving.

A Bulldog offensive lineman was in the passenger seat next to Cook when the vehicle was pulled over, according to an Athens Clarke-County police report.

An officer patrolling on East Clayton Street observed the vehicle’s dealer tag, but could not see the expiration date. When the police moved behind the vehicle, Cook changed lanes.

The officer felt “the driver was attempting to evade me checking the temporary tag,” the report noted. The car pulled into a handicapped space and police noticed that the temporary tag number indicated an unknown insurance status.

After he was pulled over, Cook told the officer he did not have his driver’s license and he was a Georgia football player. The officer later learned Cook’s license was invalid.

The officer smelled burned marijuana, the report noted. Cook said there wasn’t any marijuana in the vehicle because he smoked it.

However, a marijuana “shake” was seen on the center console, according to the report.

Cook is Georgia’s fourth-leading rusher. Coach Kirby Smart and the school have yet to comment on Cook’s arrest.

DUI Laws | What You Need to Know

The laws make it illegal for drivers of all ages to operate motor vehicles if they have BAC percentages of:

• 0.08% or higher, if they’re 21 years old or older operating regular passenger vehicles.
• 0.04% or higher, if they’re operating commercial vehicles.
• 0.02% or higher, if they’re younger than 21 years old.

Georgia State law also requires a clinical evaluation and the attendance of a DUI / Risk Reduction Program that’s certified/licensed by the Georgia Department of Driver’s Services before your driver’s license can be reinstated if you have been charged with any of the following:

1. DUI
2. Drug Possession
3. Other drug offenses
4. Under-age possession of drugs or alcohol

Before getting behind the wheel after having a few, consider the many reasons why you should not.

Cook will be able to complete the following at A-1’s Athens location.

For more information about DUI School visit www.a1drivingschools.com or call (770) 962-9555!

14 people in Georgia, including two in southwest Georgia, lost their lives in traffic crashes over the just-completed 54-hour Christmas holiday travel period, according to reports by the Georgia Department of Public Safety.

That number was down significantly from the Christmas 2018 travel period when 26 people were killed on Georgia roadways. The 2018 travel period, however, was more than twice as long, covering 126 hours from 6 p.m. Dec. 21, a Friday, until midnight on Dec. 26, a Wednesday.

This year’s Christmas travel period, as recognized by the state’s DPS, opened at 6 p.m. Tuesday and ended Thursday night at midnight.

The driver of the school bus that crashed near Chattanooga has been arrested and charged with five counts of vehicular manslaughter.

Johnthony Walker, 24, is in custody.

The district’s attorney’s office has confirmed six elementary students in Chattanooga have died and many more are hurt after the school bus they were on crashed and wrapped around a tree.

The severity of the others’ injuries has not yet been reported.

Thirty-five students were on the bus at the time of the crash, WDEF reported.

Chattanooga Police Chief Fred Fletcher had said 23 of them have been taken to the hospital, but there may be more kids hurt, as crews were still working on rescuing people who were trapped.

Everyone has since been freed from the bus, according to the Chattanooga Fire Department.

It is unclear at this time what led to the crash, but police said the bus driver is cooperating with them.

The school district said it is bringing in extra counselors to offer support.

Here are some common rule of always stopping for a stopped school bus is not always correct:

Always Stop for a School Bus, when…

1. Approaching behind a school bus when its’ lights flash yellow and red.
2. Driving on either side of a 2-lane highway, both sides of traffic must always stop! for a stopped school bus.

Never Stop for a School Bus, when…

1. Driving on the opposite side of traffic, on a 4-lane highway.

This is the common mistake most motorists make when approaching a stopped school bus.

If you are driving on the opposite side of the traffic of a school bus, on a 4-lane highway, always proceed with caution, but always keep moving! Stopping will impede traffic and may cause accidents.

For more safe driving information or safe driving practices, A-1 Driving Schools has 19 convenient locations around metro Atlanta that all offer defensive driving courses! For more information please call (770)962-9555 or visit us at www.a1drivingschools.com.

Our condolences go to the family and friends of those involved in this tragic accident. 

All persons involved in the accident were transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center,” the sheriff stated. “Sadly, one student succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the hospital.”

The Georgia State Patrol has since identified the deceased driver as 17-year-old Carlos Christo Morales of Baldwin. The GSP reports that Morales was riding with his brother and cousin in a Ford F-150 pickup truck when a Jeep Cherokee crossed the center line and ran into them head-on.

The other driver, Cherrie Pulido of Mt. Airy, now faces charges of driving under the influence, failure to maintain lane, failure to exercise due care, tire requirements and homicide by vehicle in the first degree.

She will be booked into the jail when released from the hospital, however, a spokesperson for the GSP said that she is being treated for serious injuries.

The other two teens who were riding with Morales, both 15 years old, didn’t have any serious or life-threatening injuries according to the trooper who filed the report.

The sheriff added that his office and the school system have put into place a support system for students, faculty, and staff following the tragic news.

Habersham Central High School counselors will be visiting classes of the three students who died to inform them of the tragedy and offer “support passes” to allow them to leave class or be excused to meet with counselors. Counselors will also be stationed in the staff development room at the high school to provide services to any students, faculty or staff.

Georgia State law also requires a clinical evaluation and the attendance of a DUI / Risk Reduction Program that’s certified/licensed by the Georgia Department of Driver’s Services before your driver’s license can be reinstated if you have been charged with any of the following:

1. DUI
2. Drug Possession
3. Other drug offenses
4. Under-age possession of drugs or alcohol

Before getting behind the wheel after having a few, consider the many reasons why you should not.

For more information about DUI School visit www.a1drivingschools.com or call (770) 962-9555!

Our condolences go to the family and friends of Carlos Morales, along with those impacted by this tragic accident.