The driver police say struck and killed a UGA student over the weekend in Athens has turned himself in to police.
29-year-old Donterris Gresham of Athens turned himself in at the Clarke County Jail Wednesday, October 13, according to Athens-Clarke County Police Lt. Shaun Barnett.
Gresham was allegedly behind the wheel of a Honda Accord that struck and killed Ariana Zarse. The 20-year-old Zarse was fatally injured as she and a friend walked across Broad Street downtown just after midnight Saturday, October 9.
EMS transported Zarse to a local hospital where she died from her injuries. Her friend was not injured.
Police found the vehicle involved in the crash over the weekend but were investigating to determine who was driving. ACCPD identified Gresham as the suspect on October 11 and issued warrants for his arrest. He was booked into jail Wednesday evening.
Gresham is charged with 1st-degree vehicular homicide, hit and run resulting in serious injury or death, failure to obey a traffic control device, too fast for conditions, and driving without a valid license.
Zarse remembered as ‘fun-loving’ and ‘energetic’
Zarse was a marketing and political science major from Austin, Texas, and a member of Pi Beta Phi. In an online tribute to her, the sorority remembered Zarse as “fun-loving” and “energetic.”
“She was strong-willed, bold, and a true friend to everyone who met her,” they wrote. “She always put in 100% of herself into everything she did.”
Earlier this month, Zarse participated in a boxing championship to raise money for charity.
According to police, her death marks the 20th fatal motor vehicle crash in Athens-Clarke County this year.
