A 60-year-old Gainesville man has been charged with vehicular homicide following a two-vehicle crash on Browns Bridge Road that claimed the lives of two people on Saturday, March 22.
According to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office, the wreck occurred just after 11 a.m. near the intersection of S. Smith Road. The department’s Accident Investigation Unit has led the case.
Authorities say Rafael Garrido was driving a 2024 Nissan Titan westbound on Browns Bridge Road when 24-year-old Kegan Thomas of Cumming, driving a 2015 Kia Optima, passed him at a high rate of speed.
Moments later, as both drivers changed lanes, police say Garrido attempted to merge right and clipped the front of Thomas’ vehicle. The impact sent the Kia off the roadway,struck a utility pole, rolled over and then crashed into a concrete retaining wall.
Thomas and his front-seat passenger, 22-year-old Ariyana Richards, also of Cumming, were both killed in the crash.
Garrido was arrested Saturday evening and charged with two counts of first-degree vehicular homicide, two counts of aggressive driving, as well as racing and reckless driving. He remains in custody at the Hall County Jail.
The investigation is ongoing.
