A Glennville woman has been arrested by the Georgia State Patrol four months after a Bulloch County collision that resulted in the death of two senior citizens.
Thirty-six-year-old Emily Joyce Cope of Jack Jackson Road has been charged with two counts of first-degree vehicular homicide, DUI less safe, driving on the wrong side of the road, and failure to maintain lane.
She was booked into the Bulloch County Jail on August 28 and she is being held without bond.
The crash occurred on April 18 in Ellabell and it resulted in the deaths of 76-year-old Neil Howard Swickard and 80-year-old Carolyn Swickard.
The couple lived along Highway 46.
According to the Georgia State Patrol, Cope was approaching a curve on Highway 119 in the area of McDaniel Drive around 3:30 p.m. Her Chevrolet Trailblazer crossed the center line and hit the front of the Swickards’ Honda Odyssey as they traveled from the opposite direction.
Reports indicate that Carolyn Swickard died at the scene while Neil was transported to Memorial Hospital in Savannah by an Air Evac helicopter.
Cope was taken to the same hospital via Lifestar helicopter.
It is alleged that she was under the influence of methamphetamine.
A charge of vehicular homicide can result from recklessness, negligence or disobeying standard traffic laws. Cope has been charged with felony vehicular homicide, but the offense can either also be a misdemeanor.
A driver is typically charged with a felony when they committed a serious traffic offense such as driving under the influence, driving recklessly, or attempting to elude a police officer.
Penalties include between three and 15 years in prison.
If a family member died in a crash caused by a reckless driver, you may be entitled to compensation. A Georgia car accident lawyer can advise you accordingly.
Source: https://www.statesboroherald.com/local/april-crash-leads-vehicular-homicide-charges/
