An 18-year-old driver was arrested in connection with a fatal car crash that occurred on May 14, 2024 in Alpharetta, claiming the lives of two University of Georgia students and one Alpharetta High School senior. The driver, identified as Rithwak Somepalli, faces three counts of felony first-degree homicide by vehicle and one count of reckless driving, as reported by Atlanta News First.

The tragic incident took place near Westside Parkway and Maxwell Road when the vehicle driven by Somepalli crashed into trees and flipped upside down. Police have indicated that speed may have been a factor. Sriya Avasarala and Anvi Sharma, both 18-year-old freshmen at the University of Georgia, and Aryan Joshi, a senior at Alpharetta High School, were the victims in the crash. Somepalli and another passenger, Mohammed Liyakath, an Alpharetta High School student, were hospitalized following the accident.

Fulton County Jail records revealed that Somepalli was booked yesterday. The court granted him bond during a hearing, as noted by Atlanta News First. If convicted of first-degree vehicular homicide in Georgia, Somepalli could face a minimum of three years and up to fifteen years in prison, according to a report from FOX 5 Atlanta.

Data from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System show a disturbing trend: a total of 3,058 teenagers between the ages of 13 and 19 were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2021, which marks an 11% increase from the previous year. Teenagers made up 7% of all motor vehicle crash deaths and 9% of passenger vehicle occupant deaths for the same period. Notably, motor vehicle crashes were the lead cause of death for females aged 13 to 19 and one of the lead causes for males in the same age bracket in 2020, highlighting a critical area for ongoing concern and preventive measures.