A Georgia woman is now facing criminal charges after she allegedly jumped a curb and fatally struck a teenager before driving away.
She is 38-year-old Katie Pancione of Milton.
The accident that resulted in the death of 13-year-old Leonardo Camacho happened on June 16.
Reports indicate that the boy and his father were walking along a sidewalk in Cumming, GA when an SUV sped down the road.
The vehicle jumped the curb and struck Camacho, propelling him into the air.
The father was also hit but media reports said he still tried to save his son’s life.
Both victims were rushed to a local hospital. However, Leonardo was subsequently airlifted to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. His injuries were severe while his father received only minor leg injuries.
Investigators responding to the scene discovered a white SUV parked nearby with damage to the bumper.
Officers spoke to Pancione who was the driver. She allegedly showed signs of impairment due to alcohol and potentially other substances and was taken into custody.
Meanwhile, Leonardo was on life support for four days.
Spokesperson for the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Stacie Miller confirmed that he died as a result of his injuries on the night of June 21.
Pancione was subsequently charged with vehicular homicide and hit and run resulting in serious injury or death. Both offenses are felonies in Georgia.
Pancione is also facing misdemeanor charges of reckless driving, driving under the influence, failing to maintain lane, and driving too fast for conditions.
She is being held in the Forsyth County Jail without bond. It was not immediately clear whether she had an attorney.
If you suffered injuries in an accident caused by a reckless driver or you lost a loved one, you may be able to get compensation for your losses. A Georgia car accident lawyer can help you.
Source: https://www.oxygen.com/crime-news/katie-pancione-charged-with-killing-leonardo-camacho-in-crash
