Kimberly King Killed in Tattnall County Pedestrian Accident
The other driver charged with involuntary manslaughter after vehicle veers off road, striking two people
Kimberly King, 46, was killed and a 20-year-old woman was injured in a pedestrian accident in Tattnall County on Saturday, according to the Sheriff's Office.
A vehicle veered off the road and struck the two people. Before the impact, King tossed a 3-year-old child she was holding out of the vehicle's path, saving the toddler from injury. Paramedics transported the 20-year-old to a local hospital for treatment. Her current condition has not been released.
Deputies arrested the other driver, 25, in connection with the collision. He faces charges of involuntary manslaughter.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is assisting local authorities with the ongoing inquiry to determine why the driver left the travel lanes.
Why did the vehicle leave the road in Tattnall County?
While the cause and liability of a crash are being investigated, it is important that a competent attorney handles investigations into cases such as this to ensure the rights of the victim's family are protected.
National Legal Analyst Stefano Formica, Of Counsel at Bond Legal, noted that "In pedestrian accidents involving a vehicle leaving the roadway, investigators must meticulously examine tire marks, steering input data, and potential driver distractions to understand the exact sequence of events that led to the loss of control."
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, roadway departure crashes account for more than half of all fatal traffic collisions in the United States annually.
What are the next steps in the GBI investigation?
Victims like King are killed in motor vehicle accidents across our country, and it is often not their fault.
National Legal Analyst Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal, noted that "When analyzing pedestrian accidents, we look closely at the driver's actions leading up to the impact, as families of the deceased may have grounds to pursue a civil claim independent of any criminal proceedings."
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation will likely reconstruct the crash scene to determine the vehicle's speed and trajectory before it left the travel lanes.
Georgia wrongful death statute
Georgia law generally imposes a two-year statute of limitations for filing a wrongful death claim, though this timeline can be paused if the at-fault party faces criminal charges related to the crash. Families may also file a separate estate claim to recover medical bills, funeral costs, and damages for the victim's pain and suffering prior to death.