A grieving father is behind bars after authorities arrested him for interfering with government property. The Georgia father stated that he was simply taking action to prevent further tragedy from striking the local community after the devastating death of his daughter and her boyfriend. At this time, it is unclear if any criminal charges will be formally filed.
In March 2015, the car in which the man’s daughter and her boyfriend were traveling left the roadway while driving over the bridge. Without guardrails or any other type of barrier at the edges, the car fell into the body of water that runs underneath the bridge. Trapped inside the vehicle, the teens were unable to escape, and both passed away.
Following her death, the father brought up the need for guardrails to county officials. Though he may have expected an enthusiastic response to his concern, the county apparently put the guardrails on the back burner. Frustrated by the lack of action by the county, he purchased the necessary materials in order to complete the task himself. This action resulted in his arrest.
For a man who is likely still struggling to find a new normal following the death of his daughter, the possibility of criminal charges are likely devastating. However, in many cases in Georgia, a timely and careful response to charges can help defendants determine the course of action to take after an arrest. For most, this means taking a careful and accurate review of the charges and evidence against them alongside their defense attorneys.
Source: New York Daily News, “Devastated Georgia dad arrested for trying to fix bridge where his teen daughter died“, Melissa Chan, April 15, 2015
