A tragic two-vehicle collision in Dunwoody claimed the life of an 8-year-old girl Saturday night, leading to serious criminal charges against an alleged drunk driver. The fatal crash occurred just before 9:30 p.m. in front of the LaCota Apartments at 6664 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, involving a Toyota Tacoma driven by Jose Alejandro Cuahuizo-Varela and a Honda Civic that had just pulled out of the apartment complex. According to Dunwoody police, Cuahuizo-Varela's vehicle rear-ended the Honda after it entered the roadway. The young victim was rushed to Children's Hospital of Atlanta where she succumbed to her injuries, while the Honda's driver was transported to Grady Hospital in unknown condition. Cuahuizo-Varela initially fled the scene but was apprehended by responding Doraville officers. After receiving medical treatment at Northside Hospital, he was arrested and taken to DeKalb County Jail, facing multiple serious charges including felony homicide by vehicle, DUI, felony hit-and-run, reckless driving, serious injury by vehicle, and driving without a valid license. The investigation remains ongoing.

Location and Infrastructure

Peachtree Industrial Boulevard at the LaCota Apartments represents a challenging traffic environment typical of busy suburban corridors in metro Atlanta. This section of Peachtree Industrial Boulevard carries significant traffic volume as a major north-south arterial connecting Dunwoody to surrounding municipalities. The area features multiple apartment complexes and commercial developments, creating frequent ingress and egress points where vehicles must merge into fast-moving traffic. Drivers exiting apartment complexes like LaCota face the challenge of accelerating quickly to match traffic speeds while assessing gaps in both directions. The roadway's configuration, combined with Georgia's suburban sprawl patterns, often creates situations where residential traffic must navigate onto high-speed thoroughfares. Visibility and timing become critical factors, particularly during evening hours when this collision occurred. The proximity to Doraville, whose officers assisted in the response, demonstrates the interconnected nature of emergency services in this densely developed region of DeKalb County.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Under Georgia law, this incident involves multiple serious criminal charges that carry severe penalties, including felony homicide by vehicle under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-393, which can result in significant prison time when DUI is a contributing factor. The victim's family may pursue wrongful death claims against the at-fault driver, seeking compensation for medical expenses, funeral costs, pain and suffering, and loss of the child's future earning capacity. Georgia's comparative negligence system allows recovery even if the victim bears some responsibility, though criminal DUI charges strongly support liability. The two-year statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death claims in Georgia means families must act promptly to preserve their legal rights. Insurance considerations include the at-fault driver's liability coverage, potential uninsured/underinsured motorist benefits from the victim's policy, and possible claims against any establishment that may have over-served alcohol. Georgia's dram shop laws may provide additional avenues for recovery depending on where alcohol was consumed prior to the crash.

Related Resources

Local Emergency Services:

• Dunwoody Police Department: (678) 382-6911
• DeKalb County Emergency Services: 911
• Children's Hospital of Atlanta (CHOA): (404) 785-6000
• Grady Hospital: (404) 616-1000

Traffic Safety Resources:

• Georgia Department of Transportation Highway Safety: (404) 635-8000
• DeKalb County Traffic Engineering: (404) 371-2000
• Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety: (404) 656-6996

Support Services:

• Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Georgia: (770) 434-6233
• Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program: (404) 657-1956
• DeKalb County Victim Services: (404) 294-2447

Legal Information:

• Georgia Department of Driver Services: dds.georgia.gov
• Official Code of Georgia Annotated: law.justia.com/codes/georgia
• State Bar of Georgia Attorney Referral: georgiabar.org