by Robin Kemp
Morrow Police and the Georgia State Patrol are investigating a fatal DUI crash early Sunday that killed a 7-month-old fetus, left the mother in critical condition, and injured both drivers. Later Sunday afternoon, a second DUI incident on Reynolds Road sent another woman to the hospital.
The first crash happened around 1:55 a.m., according to a press release from Morrow Police. Investigators say Jeffrey Cordell Fulks, 32, of Morrow was driving a 2017 Ford F150 pickup truck south on Jonesboro Road. Meanwhile, Emanuel Cortes Acoltzi, 19, of Forest Park was driving a 2015 Chevy Cruze west on Lake Harbin Road. Riding with him was Ashley Acosta, 19, also of Forest Park.
As Acoltzi crossed Jonesboro Road towards Morrow Road, police say, Fulks allegedly ran the red light and hit Acoltzi’s car: “The force of the crash pushed Acoltzi’s vehicle across the intersection, over the sidewalk, and into a pole. Fulks’ vehicle continued over a sidewalk and through several bushes before stopping in a gas station parking lot.”
As a result, according to Morrow Police, Acosta, who was seven months’ pregnant, lost the baby and remains hospitalized “in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.”
Fults and Acoltzi were treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Morrow Police called Georgia State Patrol due to the severity of Acosta’s injuries. Fulks was arrested and charged with first-degree vehicular feticide, serious injury by vehicle, DUI, and failure to obey a traffic control device (red light violation).
Fulks is in custody at the Clayton County Jail. Morrow Police say additional charges are possible. He was granted $5,000 bond and $700 in fees on the DUI charge and $500 bond and $150 fees on the red light charge, but was not granted bond on the feticide and serious injury by vehicle charges.
Anyone who saw the crash or who has any information about the case is asked to call Morrow Police at (770) 961-4006 or the Georgia State Patrol Specialized Construction Response Team (SCRT) Troop C at (404) 624-7005.
In the second DUI incident, which happened around 3:30 p.m. Sunday, two vehicles crashed head-on near Patricia Drive on Reynolds Road, between the Morrow Dog Park and Morrow Elementary School.
According to Morrow Police, investigators say Adam Sebastian-Hernandez, 28, of Bluffton, SC was driving a 2005 Dodge Dakota south on Reynolds Road as Nykeeta Young, 31, of Forest Park was driving a 2018 Nissan Rogue north on Reynolds Road.
“The preliminary investigation indicates that Sebastian-Hernandez was driving under the influence of alcohol and crossed onto the wrong side of the road, crashing into Ms. Young’s vehicle ‘head-on,'” Morrow Police said in the press release. “As a result of the crash, Ms. Young was transported to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.”
Sebastian-Hernandez was arrested on scene and charged with DUI, driving without a license, driving with an open container, and driving on the wrong side of the road. Online jail records show he bonded out just before 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 31.
“These cases are reminders of the tragic consequences of a decision to drive impaired, ” said Morrow Police Chief Renan Lopez. “Death, injuries, damage, and life-long memories of these horrific events are terrible scars that will be carried by the individuals involved and by our community. Our thoughts are with the families of those touched by these completely preventable acts.”
To get help with a drinking problem, contact any of these local resources. Alcoholics Anonymous and SMART Recovery meetings are available online or in-person and are free to attend.
Clayton House
1560 Commercial Court, Jonesboro
(770) 478-0191
TARA Club
575 N. Central Ave., Hapeville
(404) 761-8915
Paula Crane Center
1792 Mt. Zion Road, Morrow
(770) 960-2009
SMART Recovery
Decatur (Online)
(470) 499-0347
All Clayton County AA Meetings
https://find.aageorgia.org/meetings/county/clayton+county
and
https://find.aageorgia.org/meetings/zone/13f
En Español
https://find.aageorgia.org/meetings/zone/17
