DeKalb County authorities are on the hunt for an 18-year-old woman charged with vehicular homicide following a tragic car crash that claimed the life of a fellow Lakeside High School student in February. Hannah Hackemeyer is facing multiple charges including first-degree vehicular homicide, reckless driving, and driving under the influence while under 21, as warrants have been obtained for her arrest, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. These warrants have since been transferred to the DeKalb County Fugitive Unit.
According to an incident report obtained by 11Alive, Hackemeyer was allegedly trying to quickly operate the vehicle that veered off Oak Grove Rd, hit a sidewalk, a crossing sign, and a tree before it overturned and rested on its roof. The single-vehicle accident, also reportedly speed-related, left three students injured and resulted in the death of 18-year-old Sophie Lekiachvili shortly after at Grady Memorial Hospital.
Sophie's death is the fourth in a string of car crash fatalities involving Lakeside High students this school year, further amplifying the community's grief. Lakeside High's Principal Susan Stoddard expressed the school's condolences, and 11Alive reports her as stating, "Our deepest sympathies remain with the loved ones of the students affected during this challenging period." Previous incidents included a horrific crash in September 2023 that killed three students and a separate incident in March resulting in another student's death.
