Crime & Safety
Vehicular Homicide Charged in Fatal I-85 Accident
Police say Maria Zeeyala Torres was at fault in wreck that killed truck driver Eric Murray, 39, of Minneapolis, Minn.
Gwinnett Police charged a Norcross woman with vehicular homicide stemming from Thursday morning’s fatal accident on I-85.
Investigators determined Maria Zeeyala Torres, 44, of Norcross, was at fault in the accident that killed truck driver Eric Murray, 39, of Minneapolis, Minn., on northbound I-85 between Beaver Ruin Road and Steve Reynolds Boulevard. The accident occurred Thursday around 7 a.m.
She has been charged with second-degree vehicular homicide, no drivers license and failure to maintain lane.
Find out what's happening in Peachtree Cornerswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The preliminary investigation showed Torres merged her Honda Odyssey mini-van from the second right lane to the third right lane and into Murray’s tractor trailer, causing both vehicles to lose control.
Murray died at the scene. His passenger, Bryant Garrott, 62, also of Minneapolis, was sent to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Find out what's happening in Peachtree Cornerswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Torres also went to the hospital with minor injuries and was taken to the county jail after she was discharged.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.