Child Killed in Hit and Run; Teen Driver Charged

Gwinnett Police arrested and charged a 16-year-old Lawrenceville driver who left the scene after his vehicle struck and killed a 9-year-old Lawrenceville girl about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday (April 19) with hit and run and first degree vehicular homicide, police reported. The accident occurred on Club Drive in between Woodstream Drive and Kibbe Circle, near  in unincorporated Duluth. The girl was identified as Gracelle Sanders.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the driver was heading south on Club Drive driving a black 2001 Mazda Tribute, according to Gwinnett Police Cpl. Edwin Ritter. The girl attempted to cross Club Drive and stepped into the path of the driver, who continued south on Club Drive and did not stop to render aid, Ritter said. She died on scene as a result of the injuries sustained in the collision, he said. 

The teenage driver proceeded to the QT located at Beaver Ruin Road and Steve Reynolds Boulevard and attempted to clean the front of his vehicle and eventually called the police to file a false accident report, Ritter said.

The driver was arrested and charged with hit and run with serious injury or death, first degree vehicular homicide, false report of a crime, tampering with evidence, and violation of driver’s license restrictions, Ritter reported. He was released to the custody of the Regional Youth Detention Center, Ritter said. The investigation is continuing, he said.

Sanders is the second Lawrenceville child this month to be killed after being hit by a car. On April 6, 9-year-old Christopher Giles was struck by a car while riding his bike after police say he failed to stop at a stop sign on Paden Drive in unincorporated Lawrenceville. Giles died from his injuries two days later. The driver in the Giles' case was not charged.