Michael Owen Snider, 70, was charged with vehicular homicide, serious injury by vehicle, driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, and following too closely after an alleged Georgia DUI hit-and-run spree.
According to an Atlanta Journal-Constitution report, Snider headed out onto the roads and allegedly hit 17 other vehicles in his 2006 Ford F-250 pickup. The spree, which took place Wednesday, January 23, 2013, included DeKalb and Gwinnett Counties.
Police say they suspect Snider of purposely sideswiping vehicles on Highway 78 after consuming an unsafe amount of alcohol.
A resident of Stone Mountain, Georgia, Snider reportedly hit Adama Keita, of Decatur, first. Keita was sitting in his Nissan 350Z at a red light after exiting the freeway at Covington Highway. After being hit from behind, he called police. Meanwhile, Snider had exited his truck, offering Keita money and asking him, “Do you know who I am?”
This was only the beginning of the 911 calls that began to stream into DeKalb County police stations as Snider allegedly caused eight wrecks there. Police say he then caused eight more crashes when he crossed into Gwinnett County.
Near Snellville, Snider reportedly rear-ended a passenger car with his truck, forcing the car under a flatbed truck and killing 69-year-old Mintiwab Woldeyhans of Loganville. The driver of the car, 51-year-old Yeshihareg Abebe of Grayson, was in critical condition after being transported to the hospital.
The spree ended when Snider ran his truck into John Boy’s Home Cooking restaurant. No one inside the restaurant was injured in the crash and the building sustained only minor damage.
According to reports, Snider said, when finally apprehended, “Do you know who I am? I do whatever I want.” He was taken to the hospital with minor injuries and booked into the Gwinnett County Jail.
As an Alpharetta DUI attorney at the Law Office of Scott Miller, I offer my sincere condolences to the family and friends who lost a loved one in this tragic accident.
