top of page

Athens woman indicted for fatal hit-and-run death of pedestrian


Amanda Leigh Gerrett

By Joe Johnson

An Athens woman was indicted this week on charges stemming from a fatal hit-and-run collision with a pedestrian three months ago.

An Athens-Clarke County grand jury charged 31-year-old Amanda Leigh Gerrett with two counts of first-degree homicide by vehicle and one count each of hit and run, reckless driving and failure to maintain lane, according to the indictment that was filed Tuesday in Superior Court.

According to Athens-Clarke County police, the incident occurred on Dec. 22 when Gerrett was driving a Jeep SUV north on North Avenue at about 3:45 p.m. when the vehicle jumped the curb and fatally struck 66-year-old Stephen James Pugh who was walking northbound on the sidewalk.

Gerrett, a resident of the Hallmark Estates mobile home park, fled the scene, police said, and the Jeep was later found abandoned on Third Street.

After connecting the abandoned Jeep to Gerrett, police took out warrants for the woman's arrest, and she was arrested six days after the collision.

Athens-Clarke County Coroner Sonny Wilson said he was unable to find any next of kin to notify them about Pugh’s death. He said that both of the homeless man’s parents, who had lived in Brunswick, were deceased.

The coroner said he did not know where Pugh stayed in Athens, but a woman who knew him said he lived in the area of Carr's Hill and often interacted with members of the Oconee Street United Methodist Church.

Gerrett, who has been detained at the county jail without bail being set, is scheduled to be arraigned on April 26.


2,075 views8 comments
bottom of page