A late-night collision at the intersection of Cumberland Parkway and Mt. Wilkinson Parkway in Cobb County left two people seriously injured and landed one driver in handcuffs shortly after 10:43 p.m. Tuesday, according to police. Investigators say the driver making a left turn into oncoming traffic was 31-year-old Brittany Jacks of Atlanta, who was arrested at the scene on suspicion of driving under the influence. Two passengers were reported as seriously hurt and taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, while others involved in the wreck suffered minor injuries.
As reported by The Georgia Sun, Jacks was heading south on Cumberland Parkway when she attempted to turn left onto Mt. Wilkinson Parkway and moved into the path of a northbound 2001 Mercedes E320. That vehicle was driven by 18-year-old Bryce Smith of Marietta and carried three occupants, including 21-year-old Que’tonyanna Young of Smyrna and 20-year-old Kymani Russell of Atlanta. Jacks was taken into custody at the scene and faces allegations that include DUI, serious injury by vehicle and failure to yield.
Charges and legal stakes
Investigators have announced that Jacks faces a felony charge of serious injury by vehicle, along with counts of DUI and failure to yield. Under Justia, Georgia’s serious injury by vehicle statute applies when a driver causes serious bodily harm while driving under the influence or operating a vehicle recklessly, and it carries felony-level exposure under state law. Prosecutors are expected to review the crash report, witness statements and any physical or video evidence before deciding whether to pursue formal indictments.
Statewide context
Impaired-driving crashes remain a stubborn safety problem in Georgia. The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety reports that in 2023 there were 433 traffic fatalities involving at least one alcohol-impaired driver, a 15% decrease from 2022, and that alcohol-related crashes still accounted for roughly 27% of all traffic deaths in the state. The office also notes that in multi-vehicle alcohol-related collisions, most of the fatalities and serious injuries are suffered by people riding in other vehicles, a pattern that highlights how much risk impaired drivers pose to everyone else on the road.
How to help
The crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Cobb County Police Department at 770-499-3987, per the county’s contact page. Investigators say they are reviewing available video, physical evidence from the scene and witness accounts as they determine whether to forward the case to the district attorney for potential prosecution. This story will be updated if officials release additional details.
