Crime & Safety

Update: Charges Filed in Wreck That Killed 2 Gwinnett Teens

Gwinnett Police have filed charges of DUI against a Loganville man who was the driver of another vehicle. But the DUI was not related to the cause of the accident.

Updated 11:08 a.m., Jan. 9, 2012

Charges have been filed against people in two of three vehicles involved in a wreck Saturday that killed two teens from Grayson.Β 

According to a press release from Gwinnett County Police on Monday, the accident is still under investigation, but so far charges have been filed against the drivers of two of the vehicles involved, although not related to the accident. The driver of the car that was hit head-on by the vehicle the Grayson teens were traveling in was later arrested and charged with DUI, but police report that did not contribute to the collision.

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The accident occurred at about 10:10 p.m. Saturday on Webb Ginn House Road between Chadwich Park Drive and Arbor Hill Court. Police say that the vehicle driven by Hope McKenzie, 17, of Grayson, a green 1997 Toyota Tercel,was traveling west on Webb Gin House Road when it crossed the center lane just west of Chadwick Park Drive. In doing so, it sideswiped a 2004 Toyota Scion driven by Sharianne Smith, 22, also of Grayson. McKenzie's car then spun out of control and struck a silver Toyota Tundra driver by Jeffery M. Watson, 51, of Loganville.

McKenzie, and her front seat passenger, Austin Rogers, 19, of Grayson, were both killed in the crash. Mckennan Locridge, 17, also of Grayson, was transported to Gwinnett Medical Center in a critical condition. Smith was treated for minor injuries on the scene and then taken to Gwinnett Detention Center on an outstanding arrest warrant for unrelated charges. A 21-year-old passenger in the car was treated for minor injuries and then released.

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Watson was treated at Gwinnett Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries and then later arrested for DUI. However, police reported that since it was not considered a contributing factor in the accident, he will not be charged with vehiclar homicide. A passenger in his car, Kathleen Watson, 49, also of Loganville, was taken to Gwinnett Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

Police report that the accident is still under investigation to determine the cause. A spokesman for Gwinnett County Public Schools has not yet confirmed whether Rogers is a former student of Grayson High School. However, it has been confirmed that McKenzie was a junior at the school.

Also, aΒ Facebook memorial pageΒ has been set up for McKenzie.


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