Michael Owen Snider, 70, was arrested on January 23, 2013. He allegedly hit 17 vehicles across DeKalb and Gwinnett counties Wednesday evening, in a hit-and-run spree, while driving under the influence of alcohol. Police believe Snider was drunk behind the wheel of his 2006 Ford F-250 pickup when swiping vehicles along Highway 78.
Adama Keita was at a red light after exiting I-285 at Covington Highway when his Nissan 350Z was hit from behind around 7:30 pm. Keita was the first person Snider allegedly hit , according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution .
During the two county wide driving spree, Snider collided with a Toyota Camry, impacting it beneath a tractor-trailer, killing a passenger. A bystander, Dennis Brown, accused Snider of targeting cars on the road, witnessing him strike another vehicle and bear down upon it. After, Snider allegedly pursued Brown. Brown told WSBTV :
“He intentionally tried to hit me so that’s when he chased me. Literally he chased me, on the road. It was like a video game. Really, I couldn’t believe he was trying to do that. I was just trying to get out of the way.”
Snider’s journey ended abruptly when his vehicle veered off the road and crashed into a restaurant. Snider reportedly said, “Do you know who I am? I do whatever I want,” seemingly unconcerned with the life-loss and destruction that had transpired amidst his drunken wake.
Following his hospital release, Snider was taken to the Gwinnett County Jail and charged with vehicular homicide, serious injury by vehicle, DUI, reckless driving, and following too closely. CBS Atlanta also reports additional charges are pending.
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