ATLANTA — One person was killed and six people were injured when a driver suspected of DUI fled from police and hit two cars on I-75/85 early Saturday morning, police said.
Police said a trooper was on Spring Street near 5th Street when a black Dodge Challenger pulled ahead of him around 3:40 a.m. and drove the wrong way. When the trooper tried to chase the Challenger, the driver pulled onto I-75/85 south, police said.
Channel 2's Michael Seiden obtained exclusive surveillance video of the moments the chase began outside the Varsity restaurant.
In the video, the Challenger speeds down the street and through an intersection, followed by a patrol car, as dozens of people outside a popular cigar bar across the street look on.
Police have since identified the driver of the Challenger as Kahre Williams, 34, of Union City.
There is a major accident on 75/85 Southbound past Williams St (Mile Post 249C). Currently, all lanes are blocked. Cars are being diverted southbound on 75/85 to use exit 249C (Williams Street). I’m working to find out what happened here. I’ll have an update at 6. @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/LeBvDsin6j
— Lauren Pozen WSB (@LaurenPozenWSB) April 20, 2019
Williams went on to pull onto the downtown connector, where he slammed into a red Ford Expedition and a silver Nissan Altima just past Williams Street.
Several passengers in the Expedition were ejected from the vehicle. The driver and three other passengers in the Expedition were injured. Another passenger in the front seat was taken to the hospital where he died.
Two passengers in the Altima were also injured.
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Williams ran from the scene and was caught by police. Williams was not hurt.
The victim who was killed has been identified as Juan Gispert, 28. The injured victims from the Expedition have been identified as Juan Gispert de Armas, 64, Angel Gispert, 25, Maria Gispert and Kimberly Bennett, 49. The family was from Florida.
The two people injured in the Altima have been identified as Lara Artis, 58, and Charles Sibley, 59. None of the othe victims' conditions have been released.
The crash shut down the downtown connector for hours as police investigated.
VICTIMS: Juan Gispert de Armas, 64 ,of West Park, FL . Juan Gispert, 28, of Hollywood, FL. Angel Gispert, 25 ,of Hollywood, FL. Maria Gispert, of West Park , FL. Kimberly Bennett, 49, of West Park, FL.
— Michael Seiden (@SeidenWSBTV) April 21, 2019
Lara Artis, 58 ,of Ellenwood.
Charles Sibley,59, of Atlanta. https://t.co/tZOejqEi7U
Williams refused a blood test.
Police said Williams will be charged with second-degree murder, vehicular homicide, two counts of serious injury, felony fleeing, and related traffic charges.
Cox Media Group
