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Intoxicated performer wrecks car after leaving Athens nightclub
By Joe Johnson Sharon Dashun Warren was arrested for DUI last week after her car crashed into a light pole in the city’s Normaltown neighborhood, The 50-year-old Atlanta resident told police that she had just left McDonald’s after having finished her weekly performance at Boar’s Head Lounge, She admitted to having two martinis while at the downtown nightclub. The crash happened at around 3 am Thursday at the corner of Prince and Nacoochee avenues, where her 2017 Mercedes-Benz

Classic City News
Mar 31 min read


Athens vehicular homicide suspect was on probation for DUI drugs conviction
By Joe Johnson Terrance Terrell White last year pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of oxycodone and was sentenced to 12 months on probation. The 46-year-old Pittard Road resident now is again suspected of being intoxicated on drugs when he struck and killed a man on an electric bicycle last Saturday night. According to police reports, White was driving a BMW sedan west on Olympic Drive when he struck the e-bike operated by 37-year-old Kul Chokhal of Barnett Shoals

Classic City News
Feb 251 min read


Drug-impaired driver crashes into Athens BP station
By Joe Johnson Angus Stewart Moller, 61, of Double Bridges Crossing in Winterville, was arrested on the afternoon of February 16th after crashing his pickup truck into the BP gas station on Lexington Road, Police said that he appeared to be under the influence of drugs and that he failed drug impairment testing at the scene. In addition to his truck crashing into another vehicle at the gas station it struck the building, according to the police report. An officer stated in th

Classic City News
Feb 201 min read


DUI suspect was asleep at wheel of moving car
By Joe Johnson Zarius Jadaun Burch, 21, of Gainesville, was arrested early in the morning of December 20th after he was found passed out in his car at Thomas and Broad streets. Police said they responded to the area at 2:13 a.m. after receiving a 911 call from a witness who reported that “a male was asleep at the wheel and the vehicle was rolling down Thomas Street.” According to police there were passengers in the car who fled prior to the arrival of officers. They said that

Classic City News
Jan 121 min read


Wild police chase of teenage driver ends on front lawn of UGA sorority
By Joe Johnson An Oconee County teenager was recently arrested after he led police on a chase that began in downtown Athens and ended on the front lawn of a University of Georgia sorority house. The incident began at around 2:30 a.m. on December 13th when a bicycle cop was flagged down about a possible fight in the area of Jackson and South streets. When the officer arrived in the area he saw a car that appeared to be driving straight towards him. “Even as the proximity be

Classic City News
Jan 92 min read


Athens man indicted on homicide charge for deadly DUI crash
By Joe Johnson John Fitzhugh Orchard, 31, of Kennington Drive, has been indicted for vehicular homicide in connection with a drunk-driving crash last year that killed his passenger. He was charged with first-degree homicide by vehicle, DUI, and following another vehicle too closely, according to the indictment filed November 4th in Superior Court. The deadly crash happened on the evening of December 17, when Orchard was driving a Toyota MR2 on Macon Highway and struck a Jee

Classic City News
Nov 19, 20251 min read


Man dragging kudzu through downtown Athens arrested for DUI
By Joe Johnson Abdullah Thomas, 27, of West Broad Street, was arrested for DUI on the night of October 17th after he was seen dragging kudzu with his car through downtown Athens. Police stopped his car at about 11:15 pm on North Jackson Street, but it was unknown where he had driven off the road and into a kudzu patch and got vegetation caught up on the vehicle. The Hyundai Elantra had also left a trail of fluids as it drove through the downtown area, according to police. Th

Classic City News
Nov 7, 20251 min read


Elderly man with moonshine and weed plows SUV through woods
By Joe Johnson Tommy Moore, 78, of Hickory Drive, was arrested for DUI Monday afternoon after driving his Chevy Trailblazer off of Moss Road in Winterville and plowing through some 60 feet of woods. Police said they found a bottle of homemade moonshine in the SUV, along with open and empty cans of beer, and that Moore reeked of marijuana and alcohol. He told police that marijuana would be found in his blood if tested because he smokes weed daily. He declined treatment by EMTs

Classic City News
Nov 4, 20251 min read


Victim killed by alleged drunk driver identified as Athens man
The following was released this morning by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department: The victim in this case has been identified as Elmer Gualna-Mez, 22 of Athens, Georgia. On October 26th, at approximately 11:39 p.m., the Athens-Clarke County Police Department responded to a vehicle crash involving a pedestrian at the intersection of Highway 29 N and Highway 72. The initial investigation determined that the driver of a 2017 Nissan Versa, a 33-year-old male of Hull, GA, was

Classic City News
Nov 3, 20251 min read


Athens police seek help from public identifying victim killed by drunk driver
Released this afternoon by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department On October 26th, at approximately 11:39 p.m., the Athens-Clarke County Police Department responded to a vehicle crash involving a pedestrian at the intersection of Highway 29 N and Highway 72. The initial investigation determined that the driver of a 2017 Nissan Versa, a 33-year-old male of Hull, GA, was driving north on US Highway 29 when he struck a pedestrian crossing Highway 29. The pedestrian succumbed

Classic City News
Oct 29, 20251 min read


Pedestrian killed by drunk driver on Athens highway
By Joe Johnson A pedestrian was late killed Sunday night when struck by a vehicle driven by an alleged drunk driver. A spokesperson for the Athens-Clarke County Police Department confirmed that a person was killed on U.S. Highway 29 at Georgia Highway 72 and that the driver, Sadiq Huda from Madison County, was arrested for DUI and first-degree homicide by vehicle. The victim’s identity and other details were unavailable on Monday. Sadiq Huda

Classic City News
Oct 27, 20251 min read


Unsteady driver charged with DUI fentanyl and methamphetamine
By Joe Johnson Dana Leighann Burns, 41, of Toccoa, was arrested on September 23rd for allegedly driving under the influence of fentanyl and methamphetamine. A police officer reported that he pulled over the woman’s car on Old West Broad Street after seeing it without taillights and being driven erratically. He further noted that Burns had failed to immediately stop after activating his lights and siren. Burns reportedly told the officer that she realized that she had swerved

Classic City News
Oct 15, 20251 min read


Woman charged with DUI after hit-and-run collision in downtown Athens
By Joe Johnson Amy Melissa Staud, 50, of Danielsville, was arrested on October 7th after she drove an SUV into a light pole in downtown Athens and fled from the scene. She struck and knocked down the pole at North Thomas and East Clayton streets at about 1 in the afternoon and after she drove away police tracked her down to the Marriott hotel on East Washington Street. Officers noted alcohol on Staud’s breath when speaking with her and police said she refused submission to a

Classic City News
Oct 13, 20251 min read


Motorist arrested after overdosing on Atlanta Highway
By Joe Johnson Jonathan Mandell Mapp, 40, of Jennings Mill Parkway, was arrested after he overdosed on fentanyl while driving. He was...

Classic City News
Aug 24, 20251 min read


ICE places immigration hold on Athens prisoner following DUI arrest
By Joe Johnson An immigration hold was recently placed by ICE on a prisoner at the county jail following his arrest for driving under the...

Classic City News
Aug 6, 20251 min read


UGA student makes victim’s mental health an issue in vehicular homicide case
Benhur G. Tesfai By Joe Johnson A University of Georgia student who is facing a vehicular homicide charge for killing a pedestrian while...

Classic City News
Aug 3, 20252 min read


Athens woman charged again with driving under the influence of drugs
By Joe Johnson An Athens woman has been arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of drugs for a second time within a month....

Classic City News
Jul 26, 20251 min read


Suspected drunk driver blows 0.000 on breathalyzer
stock photo of Intoxilyer 9000 By Joe Johnson Luke Strickland was driving downtown early the morning of July 5th when he was pulled over...

Classic City News
Jul 20, 20251 min read


“Tweaking” motorist charged with driving under the influence of drugs
Jaron Taylor Anderson By Joe Johnson A 30-year-old Watkinsville man was charged with driving under the influence of drugs the afternoon...

Classic City News
Jul 16, 20251 min read


Motorcyclist dies after colliding with drunk-driver’s truck in downtown Athens
Stephen Michael Ford By Joe Johnson A 38-year-old Athens woman died early Sunday after her motorcycle collided with a pickup truck driven...

Classic City News
Jul 14, 20251 min read
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