A driver will face charges after allegedly fleeing a traffic stop and crashing into an abandoned gas station early Friday morning in northwest Atlanta, according to Atlanta Police. The incident occurred around 2:05 a.m. when an officer spotted a white Dodge Challenger "laying drag" in the 3000 block of Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway NW. When the officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the driver fled in the opposite direction from the pursuing officer. The vehicle subsequently crashed into an abandoned gas station located in the 2000 block of Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway, causing the sports car to catch fire while both the driver and passenger remained trapped inside. Police officers were able to extract the passenger from the burning vehicle, and with assistance from Atlanta Fire and Rescue, they successfully removed the driver and extinguished the flames. Both occupants were transported to local hospitals and are expected to recover from their injuries.

Location and Infrastructure

Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway is among Atlanta's most dangerous corridors, ranking in the city's High-Injury Network where approximately 8% of Atlanta's streets account for 88% of traffic fatalities and 52% of severe injuries. The Georgia Department of Transportation has identified this corridor as one of the "top corridors in Georgia with clear patterns of pedestrian crashes that resulted in serious or fatal injuries," with 10 people killed between 2017-2021 alone. Since 2010, Atlanta Police have responded to more than 25 pedestrian fatalities along this corridor, with investigators citing high speeds, distracted driving, and inadequate traffic control devices as contributing factors. The stretch where this incident occurred represents a particularly hazardous section of roadway that has undergone recent safety improvements, including a conversion from four lanes to three lanes with a center turning lane designed to reduce crash rates by 37%.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Under Georgia Code Section 40-6-395, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer constitutes a serious criminal offense. For a first offense, the charge is classified as a high and aggravated misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $1,000 to $5,000 and imprisonment of 10 days to 12 months, with no possibility of suspension, stay, or probation for the fine. The charges can escalate to felony level if aggravating factors are present, such as exceeding the speed limit by more than 20 mph, colliding with vehicles or pedestrians, or creating conditions that place the public at risk of serious injuries, resulting in fines of $5,000 to $10,000 and imprisonment of 1 to 10 years. Additionally, the driver may face reckless driving charges under Georgia Code Section 40-6-390, which carries penalties of up to 12 months in jail and fines up to $1,000, adding 4 points to the driver's license. Victims of traffic accidents may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering, with Georgia's statute of limitations typically requiring personal injury claims to be filed within two years of the incident.

Related Resources

Emergency Services:

• Atlanta Police Department: (404) 546-4235
• Atlanta Fire Rescue Department: (404) 853-7000
• Grady Emergency Medical Services: (404) 616-4307

Traffic Safety Resources:

• Georgia Department of Transportation: (404) 635-8000
• Atlanta Police Central Records (Accident Reports): 3493 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30331, (404) 546-7461
• Georgia Department of Driver Services: (678) 413-8400

Support Services:

• Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Georgia: (770) 451-3642
• Georgia Victim Assistance Program: (404) 657-2222
• Atlanta Legal Aid Society: (833) 435-4357

Legal Information:

• Georgia Traffic Laws: Official Code of Georgia Annotated Title 40
• Georgia Department of Driver Services Traffic Laws: dds.georgia.gov