Driver charged after crash that killed South Fulton captain in court
Woman accused of killing South Fulton officer appears in court
Investigators say Santoria McLean crossed the center line and struck Garcia’s patrol vehicle head-on; Garcia, a father of three, did not survive.
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. - The woman charged in a crash that killed a South Fulton police captain faces new charges after she appeared in court on Monday.
What we know:
Santoria McLean, 31, faces 8 charges stemming from the April collision that claimed the life of 47-year-old Capt. Helio Anthony Garcia.
The charges include driving under the influence, reckless driving, speeding, improper lane change, and first-degree vehicular homicide.
Prosecutors played dash-camera video from the crash in the courtroom on Monday.
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The backstory:
Investigators say McLean crossed the center line near the intersection of Flat Shoals Road and Connell Road, crashing head-on into Garcia’s patrol vehicle. Garcia, who was on duty at the time, was a husband and father of three.
Santoria McLean. Photo courtesy of Fulton County Sheriff's Office
Both McLean and Garcia were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital following the wreck. McLean spent about a month recovering from her injuries, but Garcia did not survive.
She remains in the Fulton County Jail after being denied bond in May.
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What they're saying:
Garcia's widow, Eliana Garcia was in the courtroom Monday. She addressed the media after the proceedings.
"It's very difficult being in the same room with someone that was selfish careless did not care about anyone's life," said Garcia. "He was just doing his job and someone just decided to be selfish and this is what happens."
Garcia said she struggled watching the dashcam video. "It's very hard seeing that video. Knowing that he fought once again to the last moment I...I have no words."