The two-vehicle accident on March 4, 2018 injured officer Jimmy Frady and Debra Buchanan. She later died. (Daniel Purcell/Now Habersham)
A former Cornelia police officer has been charged in a wreck that killed a retired Habersham County school teacher earlier this year.
The Georgia State Patrol (GSP) charged 33-year-old Jimmy Frady with 2nd degree vehicular homicide and failure to yield in the March 4th wreck that killed Debra Buchanan.
The 61-year-old Buchanan died at her home in Baldwin on March 10th, six days after colliding with Frady’s police SUV at the intersection of US 441 Business and J.Warren Road.
Frady was on his way to check on a security guard he promised to visit when he failed to yield at the light and turned into the path of Buchanan’s Toyota Highlander, according to the GSP report. The impact of the crash caused the police SUV Frady was driving to overturn.
Buchanan initially survived the wreck. She was treated and released from Habersham Medical Center but later returned with complications. An autopsy revealed she died of “pulmonary thromboembolism” caused by a blood clot that formed as a result of the crash.
On September 26th, the Georgia State Patrol obtained arrest warrants for Frady. He was arrested on September 28th, according to Habersham County jail records. He was released the same day on $2,400 bond.
(Daniel Purcell/Now Habersham)
Cornelia Police Chief Chad Smith says Frady is no longer employed by the City of Cornelia. Cornelia Human Resources Manager Diane Feorino says Frady’s employment was terminated on July 31, 2018 for “violation of policy.” She says his termination was not related to the accident.
Chief Smith says he stands by his previous statements regarding the crash and has no further comment.
Now Habersham reached out to Cornelia City Manager Dee Anderson for comment. He has not responded.
This article has been updated with additional information on Jimmy Frady’s bond and employment status
