Gwinnett Daily Post

LAWRENCEVILLE -- A Stone Mountain man was on drugs during a December fatal crash, police said.

Donald James Hanchett, 23, was booked into the Gwinnett County jail Saturday and charged with vehicular homicide, driving under the influence of drugs and various traffic charges. The arrest was in connection with a Dec. 13 crash that claimed the life of a Tucker man.

According to incident reports and arrest warrants, Hanchett was driving west on Stone Mountain Highway in Lilburn when, at about 11:30 p.m., his 2000 Honda Accord "failed to maintain lane and stuck the center median" before crossing over into the eastbound lanes. Shahbuddin Panjwani, 61, was driving his vehicle, also a Honda Accord, eastbound.

The cars hit head-on between Lake Lucerne Road and Jessica Daron Court, police said.

Hanchett, who was reportedly not wearing his seat belt, was extricated and transported to the hospital with serious injuries. Panjwani and a female passenger also had to be extricated from their vehicle and were transported.

Panjwani later died.

Warrants were issued Friday for Hanchett's arrest. It was unclear was drug he had allegedly taken at the time of the wreck.

Jail records show he was released Saturday on $16,400 bond.