Distracted driver Charged in Gwinett County Hit-and-run

A young woman has been arrested in relation to a Gwinett County hit-and-run accident.

The crash occurred on October 29. Nineteen-year old Jami Michelle Marengo crashed into a mail box on Millwater Crossing in Dacula and then crashed into a school bus carrying five special-needs students. Fortunately, no one was injured.

After causing the accident, Marengo left the scene and parked at a restaurant on Hamilton Mill Road where she called police to report her car stolen.

Marengo was arrested on November 24. She has been charged with making a false statement, filing a false report, hit and run, failure to maintain a lane and obstruction. Marengo is also charged with violating probation.

Police say that at the time of the Georgia car accident, Marengo was holding a cellphone in front of her face.

In 2009, 5,474 Americans were killed and an additional 448,000 were injured in motor vehicle accidents that involved distracted driving. About 995 of those distracted driving deaths involved a driver who was using a cell phone. Twenty-two percent of drivers who are distracted by cell phones at the time of a crash are under age 20.

If you have been injured or lost a loved one to a distracted driver, you have the right to insurance compensation for your losses. But, the insurance companies will do their best to minimize your claim. To learn more, contact Atlanta accident attorney Shane Smith at (980) 246-2656 to receive a free copy of his guide, “10 Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Georgia Wreck Case.”