Inside an Athens-Clarke County courtroom Tuesday, the parents of University of Georgia doctoral student Beth Buchanan asked a judge to award $50 million in a wrongful-death suit after the 23-year-old was killed in a wrong-way DUI crash in February 2023. The judge held a damages hearing and said he expects to issue a final ruling within about 30 days, while authorities continue to search for the man accused of causing the wreck.
Damages Hearing Inside Athens Courthouse
At Tuesday’s hearing, family attorney Robert Snyder told the court the Buchanans are seeking $50 million and said the family’s goal was to create a public record that clearly assigns responsibility, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. The judge offered a preliminary finding but did not set a final damages amount during the session, and he indicated a written ruling could come in roughly 30 days.
Crash Details And The Young Scholar Lost
Earlier reporting says the crash occurred on Feb. 13, 2023, on University Parkway near Patrick Mill Road in Barrow County when a vehicle traveling the wrong way struck Buchanan’s car head-on. Buchanan died and her mother survived, WSB‑TV reported. Buchanan was a 23-year-old psychology doctoral student at UGA who had graduated summa cum laude from Rice University and was described by friends and mentors as academically gifted.
Fugitive Search And Reward Money
The man accused in the crash, Cesar Raudales Macias, is wanted on charges including vehicular homicide and driving under the influence, and the U.S. Marshals Service says he remains a fugitive. The Marshals offered up to $5,000 while Barrow County officials added up to $10,000, putting the combined reward at about $15,000, according to a U.S. Marshals Service press release.
Family Paints A Portrait Of Beth
Timothy and Julie Olson‑Buchanan attended the hearing and described Beth as “all about helping others,” their attorney said, and Julie told the court she was in the car with her daughter when the crash happened, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. The family said their priority is to establish a public judgment that documents what occurred, more than to pursue money alone.
Legal Context
Under Georgia civil procedure a plaintiff may move for a default judgment if a defendant fails to answer, but when damages are unliquidated the court requires proof of harm before setting an award, as explained in O.C.G.A. § 9‑11‑55. That statute gives judges discretion to hear evidence on damages even if liability is treated as admitted by default, a legal wrinkle that could shape how the Buchanans’ request is resolved.
The judge said a written ruling should be ready in the coming weeks. In the meantime law enforcement asks anyone with information on Macias’ whereabouts to submit tips via the Marshals’ tip line or app, per the U.S. Marshals Service. The family’s civil case and the ongoing manhunt are likely to remain closely linked as the court moves toward a decision.
