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High Speed Chase in Atlanta Ends in Fiery Crash

Posted by Richard Lawson | Jul 31, 2019 | 0 Comments

A high speed police chase ended with a vehicle falling down a 30 foot embankment onto the Downtown Connector and bursting into flames.

Police attempted to pull over a white Mercedes after it was clocked going 63 MPH on Piedmont Road. The vehicle slowed down near Armour Drive but then took off again. The driver allegedly lost control on a curve and tumbled over the embankment and fell onto I-75 and caught fire.

The driver took off from the scene, and authorities are still on the search.

In today's post, I will outline the offense of fleeing the police.

Fleeing the Police in Atlanta

Fleeing the police in Atlanta is defined by Georgia Law in O.C.G.A. §40-6-395 as:

It shall be unlawful for any driver of a vehicle willfully to fail or refuse to bring his or her vehicle to a stop or otherwise to flee or attempt to elude a pursuing police vehicle or police officer when given a visual or an audible signal to bring the vehicle to a stop. The signal given by the police officer may be by hand, voice, emergency light, or siren. The officer giving such signal shall be in uniform prominently displaying his or her badge of office, and his or her vehicle shall be appropriately marked showing it to be an official police vehicle.

The statute above is only one part of the law considering fleeing the police however. If a person is convicted for violating this portion of the law - even for a first time offense, then he or she will be guilty of a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature. A conviction means a penalty that can include up to $5,000 in fines as well as 12 months of jail time. 

The statute then goes on to define situations in which fleeing or attempting to elude is classified as a felony offense. The law is as follows:

Any person violating the provisions of subsection (a) of this Code section who, while fleeing or attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle or police officer in an attempt to escape arrest for any offense, other than a violation of this chapter not expressly provided for in this paragraph:

(i) Operates his or her vehicle in excess of 20 miles an hour above the posted speed limit;

(ii) Strikes or collides with another vehicle or a pedestrian;

(iii) Flees in traffic conditions which place the general public at risk of receiving serious injuries;

(iv) Commits a violation of paragraph (5) of subsection (a) of Code Section 40-6-391; or

(v) Leaves the state

If a person is convicted for violating this portion of the law, the he or she will be guilty of a felony punishable by a fine of $5,000.00 or imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than five years or both.

Practice Note

Most people attempt to flee the police because the are fearful and making snap judgments in the moment. The mere thought of an arrest or an interaction with police officers causes people to try to get away from them and avoid the situation.

This is where an Atlanta DUI Lawyer comes in. We understand what happens when a person is being detained by police. We understand just how stressful and overwhelming the process of an arrest may seem. This is why hiring a lawyer is important. An Atlanta DUI Attorney can actually mitigate the stress involved in the process. Contact our offices today if you or a loved one has been arrested.

About the Author

Richard Lawson

Richard Lawson has devoted his entire career to DUI Defense. He exclusively handles DUI Cases. As a former DUI Prosecutor he knows both sides of your case. Put his experience to work for you. You only have 10 days to protect your right to drive. Call now for immediate attention. We are available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.

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