Sometimes, truth is stranger – and far more tragic – than fiction. A prime example of this occurred recently in Georgia when an Amazon driver committed a deadly hit-and-run. The driver is now facing numerous charges, and new details continue to emerge. Commercial vehicles in Georgia frequently cause fatalities and serious injuries – whether it is an Amazon van, a tractor-trailer, or a garbage truck.
Victim Had Just Visited Graveyard Before Being Struck and Killed
Police continue to press new charges against an Amazon driver after a deadly hit-and-run in Cherokee County. The 79-year-old victim was on her way back from visiting a graveyard when she crossed Cumming Highway at about 6:30 PM. Minutes after paying her respects to her deceased loved one, her life was also cut short when she was struck and killed by an Amazon van. The driver fled the scene and even continued to deliver packages as if nothing had happened.
Fortunately, he left behind key evidence at the crash scene, which helped police solve this crime. Investigators say that they recovered a specific part of the van, which made it clear that an Amazon vehicle had been involved:
“There was evidence in the roadway that this was going to be an Amazon vehicle, a Rivian part. One of the deputies remembered seeing an Amazon truck turn down a nearby roadway.”
After being located by law enforcement officials, the Amazon driver faced new charges. The officers obtained a search warrant for the van, and they found marijuana and drug paraphernalia inside. While it is unclear whether the driver was intoxicated at the time of the accident, he faced new possession charges in addition to his hit-and-run felonies.
“He Would Not Have Been Charged, Certainly Not With These Felonies”
Police were quick to point out that if the Amazon driver had simply stopped, he might not have faced any criminal charges whatsoever. The elderly woman was crossing a highway in the darkness – outside of a crosswalk. In other words, she was jaywalking – and the Amazon driver probably could not see her until the last second.
Despite this, it is important to note that when a hit-and-run driver flees the scene, they deprive the victim of vital medical treatment. On a quiet highway with no one nearby, this Amazon driver was probably the only person who could have saved the victim – simply by calling 911 immediately after the impact. By driving away, he left the woman alone to die on the road.
Amazon has been criticized for pressuring its drivers to adhere to almost impossible quotas and schedules. This may have been a factor in the driver’s decision to continue driving and delivering packages – even after striking an elderly woman. The family may decide to explore a wrongful death lawsuit against Amazon, and they may be able to argue that the company’s obsession with meeting quotas contributed to the fatality.
Also in November of 2024, another family decided to sue Amazon for a hit-and-run. This accident occurred under similar circumstances in the dark of night. This shows that a wrongful death claim in Georgia after an Amazon hit-and-run is at least possible.