Atlanta police officers recently arrested a woman who was allegedly at fault in a fatal hit and run accident that occurred Wednesday, November 11.

The victim was reportedly run over on Arizona Avenue in the northeast part of Atlanta at approximately 1:30 a.m. She was pronounced dead at the scene. A 45-year-old woman turned herself in later that day, and was placed under arrest with charges of reckless driving, two counts of hit and run and first-degree homicide. She is currently in DeKalb County Jail awaiting court proceedings.

According to a representative from the Atlanta Police Department, the victim was in the vehicle with the woman responsible just before the accident happened. She was trying to exit the car, when suddenly the driver accelerated in reverse, knocking the victim to the ground and running over her. The driver then panicked and fled the scene, leaving the victim alone.

Fleeing the scene is and irresponsible

As officers said in an interview with Channel 2 Action News, intent is irrelevant in this case. As soon as a driver leaves the scene of an accident, he or she has committed a crime. Leaving the scene when there is an injured person is considered a felony and comes with serious penalties, including large fines, jail time, probation and driver’s license revocation.

The criminal charges the alleged perpetrator faces would be separate from any legal action the family of the victim might pursue against her. Although that aspect of the case is not yet known, it’s possible for the victim’s loved ones to seek compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit — if they so choose to do so.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a serious Atlanta auto accident, work with the experienced personal injury attorneys at McMenamy Law LLC.