By Joe Johnson
An Oconee County resident this week was arrested for homicide in connection with her killing a 13-year-old Athens girl six months ago by driving the wrong way on the Athens Perimeter and colliding head-on with a car in which the teen was a passenger.
Molly Anne Tully, 25, of Station Drive in Watkinsville was arrested Monday on warrants charging her with first-degree homicide by vehicle, DUI, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony for the Jan. 31 crash that killed Kayla Smith.
According to Sgt. First Class Tim Meyer, commander of Georgia State Patrol Post 32 in Athens, Smith was in a Dodge Charger being driven by Yanelis Figueroa, the girlfriend of Smith’s father.
The Charger was traveling west on the perimeter’s outer loop near Mitchell Bridge Road when it collided head-on with a Hyundai Genesis being driven by Tully that was traveling east in the westbound lanes of the divided highway, Myer said.
At the time, the Hyundai was being followed by an Oconee County deputy who saw that it was being driven in the wrong direction, Myer said.
Troopers from Post 32 were dispatched to the crash at about 10:55 p.m.
Meyer said that Smith died at the scene, and Figueroa and Tully were transported with serious injuries to Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center.
According to the trooper, THC wax, a highly potent cannabis extract, was recovered from Tully’s car, as was a 9mm pistol.
Tully was not immediately arrested because she and Figueroa were both hospitalized with serious injuries.
Tully was released from the Clarke County Jail on Tuesday, upon posting good security bonds totaling $5,700.