A 22-year-old Marietta man is facing felony charges following a fatal DUI crash that killed a 41-year-old Atlanta woman on Sandtown Road in Cobb County. According to the Cobb County Police Department's Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Unit, the collision occurred around 9:20 p.m. on Tuesday, August 4, on Sandtown Road south of Booth Road.

Investigators said Carlos A. Garcia was driving a 2007 Ford F-150 north on Sandtown Road when he failed to maintain his lane, crossing into oncoming southbound traffic. His truck entered the path of a 2009 Honda Odyssey driven by a 37-year-old Atlanta man. Despite attempting to avoid the crash by steering left, the driver could not prevent the collision. Both vehicles rotated on impact before coming to rest in the roadway.

The Odyssey's driver was not injured. However, passenger Keena Pierre, 41, of Atlanta, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Cobb County Medical Examiner. A second passenger, 82-year-old Katie Stephens of Marietta, was hospitalized with minor injuries. Garcia was uninjured and was arrested and charged with DUI, driving without a valid license, failure to maintain lane, failure to wear a seat belt, and first-degree felony vehicular homicide. He is being held without bond at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center. The investigation remains ongoing.

Location and Infrastructure

Sandtown Road is a two-lane roadway serving residential and commuter traffic in unincorporated Cobb County, near Marietta. The stretch south of Booth Road is a corridor where drivers transition between suburban neighborhoods and connecting arterial routes, often carrying elevated traffic volumes during evening hours. Like many undivided two-lane roads in the area, this segment relies on centerline markings rather than a physical median to separate opposing traffic, making lane departures—whether due to impairment, distraction, or fatigue—particularly dangerous. Nighttime visibility, posted speed limits, and driver attentiveness are critical safety factors along this route. Cobb County has continued to monitor traffic safety on secondary roads like Sandtown Road as development and commuter traffic in the region have grown.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Under Georgia law, a driver who causes a death while operating a vehicle under the influence may face first-degree vehicular homicide charges, a felony carrying significant criminal penalties. Separately, the victim's family may pursue a civil wrongful death claim against the at-fault driver to recover damages such as medical and funeral expenses, lost wages, loss of companionship, and pain and suffering. Georgia generally allows two years from the date of the incident to file a personal injury claim and two years for wrongful death actions, though certain circumstances may affect this timeline. Insurance considerations may include claims against the at-fault driver's liability coverage and, if coverage is insufficient, uninsured/underinsured motorist provisions. Anyone affected by this crash should consult a qualified professional to understand their specific legal options.

Related Resources

• Cobb County Police Department STEP Unit — 770-499-3987 (crash tip line)
• Cobb County Police Department — non-emergency and general inquiries
• Cobb County Medical Examiner's Office — death investigation inquiries
• Cobb County Adult Detention Center — inmate/booking information
• Georgia Department of Driver Services — dds.georgia.gov
• Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety — traffic safety data and resources
• Georgia Crash Reporting/Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) Title 40 – Motor Vehicles and Traffic — law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-40
• Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Georgia — support services for victims of impaired-driving crashes
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — impaired driving statistics and prevention resources