Woman charged in wreck deaths

Thursday, April 30, 2009
© Copyright 2013 Gwinnett Daily Post

BUFORD - Police have charged a Buford woman with negligently driving into the path of a motorcycle Saturday night, killing two riders.

Investigators say Tammy Hatchell, 45, failed to yield to the driver of a Harley Davidson about 9:15 p.m. when she turned left from northbound Peachtree Industrial Boulevard onto Shadburn Ferry Road in Buford.

Arrested on Tuesday, Hatchell faces misdemeanor charges of vehicular homicide and failure to yield.

The motorcycle, driven by Stacy Atkinson, 56, of Buford, struck the front fender of Hatchell's 1995 Lexus LS400, ejecting him and a passenger.

Emergency personnel transported both victims to Gwinnett Medical Center, where Atkinson's passenger, Irene Rogers, 51, of Lawrenceville, died that night. Atkinson died the following morning, police said.

Both victims were wearing helmets. Police don't suspect drugs or alcohol were factors, according to a police report.

Hatchell complained of minor arm pain at the scene but declined medical treatment, the report says. She told police she had not seen the motorcycle coming.

Hatchell posted $17,750 bond and was released Wednesday from the Gwinnett County Jail. She also faces an unrelated felony charge of drug possession.

Gwinnett Daily Post