A late-night crash in Clermont that deputies say was no accident has landed a Gainesville man in the Hall County Jail and left a 20-year-old passenger seriously injured.
The collision happened June 6 at about 10:30 p.m. at King Street and Cleveland Highway. Hall County investigators say 31-year-old Eric Domingo Romero is the man behind the wheel, and he now faces a long list of felony and misdemeanor charges tied to what they describe as an intentional wreck.
What Hall County Investigators Say
According to WGTJ Radio, the Hall County Sheriff’s Office Accident Investigation Unit says Romero was driving east on King Street in a 2003 Honda Pilot when he failed to stop at the stop sign and hit a southbound 2014 Dodge Charger driven by 32-year-old Edwin Omar Roman Suarez.
Hall County Fire Rescue took both drivers and Suarez’s passenger, 20-year-old Perla Olvera, to the hospital. Investigators classified Suarez’s injuries as minor and Olvera’s as serious. Romero was transported for evaluation and, according to investigators, did not suffer physical injuries.
Deputies say Romero “intentionally drove into Suarez’s vehicle in an attempt to harm himself,” turning an otherwise routine intersection into the scene of a serious injury crash.
Charges And Booking
Investigators with the Accident Investigation Unit have charged Romero with aggravated battery, serious injury by vehicle and two counts of aggravated assault, all felonies. He also faces misdemeanor counts that include DUI-alcohol, reckless driving (first offense), failure to stop at a stop sign, driver’s license and registration violations, and a tire-tread violation.
According to WGTJ Radio, investigators obtained warrants shortly after the crash but waited to arrest Romero until he was released from treatment. He was booked into the Hall County Jail on June 12 and is being held without bond on the felony counts.
Legal Context
Under Georgia law, serious injury by vehicle under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-394 (Justia) is a felony when an accident that causes significant bodily harm results from violations such as DUI or reckless driving. Aggravated battery under O.C.G.A. § 16-5-24 (Justia) is also a felony offense.
Those statutes give prosecutors a path to seek prison time if they can prove the elements of the crimes at trial. Sentencing ranges depend on the offense and any aggravating factors the court finds.
Where To Find Official Updates
Hall County shares crash and booking information through the sheriff’s “Sheriff to Citizen” portal and the Hall County Sheriff’s Office website, which also lists precinct contacts and resources for victims.
Anyone looking for official updates or with information about the crash can contact the Hall County Accident Investigation Unit through the sheriff’s office.
Romero remains in custody on the felony counts, and the case will continue through the Hall County courts. Further details are expected as court filings and official statements become available.
