Parents and teenage girl, 18, are arrested after student died in high school drunken car accident
A teenage girl has been arrested over a drunken car accident that left a high school student dead as cops press charges against the parents of another passenger. Sophia Lekiachvili, 18, was killed in a car crash after leaving a boozy get-together at her friend's house to go for a late night drive on February 24 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Charges and Arrests
Hannah Hackemeyer, also 18, the driver of the car, has been formally indicted on more charges during a press conference on Wednesday after she was initially arrested in April for driving under the influence, Fox 5 Atlanta reported.
Sumanth Rao, 50, and Anindita Rao, 49, who are the parents of another passenger, have also been indicted for allowing underage drinking in their home, which allegedly became known for parties, before the fatal wreck. Sherry Boston, the Dekalb County District Attorney, noted that the couple 'knew the girls had been drinking but they still let them get into a car and leave the house with an open bottle of wine in the front seat'.
Tragic Accident
'Halloween, Homecoming, the last day of school,' Boston told Law and Crime. 'It is a miracle that nothing happened prior to February 24. Mr. and Mrs. Rao's choices that night led to the death of a teenage girl.'
Details of the Crash
Three people are facing felony charges in connection to the death of Sophia Lekiachvili. Anindita Rao, 49, along with her husband, are indicted for allowing three underage kids to drink in their home before the fatal wreck - a home that is considered a 'party house'.
Hannah Hackemeyer, 18, the driver of the car, was formally indicted on more charges Wednesday after she was initially arrested in April for driving under the influence. Hackemeyer, Lekiachvili, and Ananya, the couple's daughter, were drinking at the Rao household earlier this year. The teens had just finished off a bottle of wine before informing the adults that they were going for a nighttime drive. Shortly before midnight, they left the home while drinking another bottle of wine. But just 30 minutes later and less than a half mile away, the decision to leave the home proved to be deadly.
Legal Consequences
'Hannah was speeding more than 60mph over the limit, hitting 98 mph just one second before the crash,' Boston said. 'The car's computer revealed she never tapped the brakes.' Hackemeyer and Rao were able to crawl out of the car - leaving Lekiachvili critically injured and trapped in the passenger seat. First responders rushed to the scene and extricated the teen before transporting her to the hospital where she died just hours later from her injuries.
During a press conference, Boston revealed that a grand jury had returned formal indictments against Hackemeyer. She is facing three counts of first-degree homicide by vehicle, three counts of serious injury by vehicle, driving under the influence under the age of 21, and possession of an open container of alcoholic beverage in the passenger area. The Rao parents are now facing charges of involuntary manslaughter, reckless conduct, and maintaining a disorderly house.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the tragic consequences of underage drinking and driving have led to the death of a young student. Prosecutors are taking actions to seek justice and prevent future tragedies.
