A college student was killed Saturday after a wrong-way driver ran a red light and hit the woman’s car, Smyrna police said.
Kimberly Islas, 21, was about five minutes from her home at the time of the crash, Channel 2 Action News reported. Police arrested Casey Taylor, 44, of Sharpsburg, who had prescription drugs in her system at the time.
According to an arrest warrant, Taylor was driving her 2003 Ford Explorer southbound at the intersection of South Cobb Drive and King Springs Road and crossed to the opposite side of the street.
Taylor allegedly struck Islas’ 2001 Honda Civic as she was turning.
“The force of the impact was so great that our victim was ejected out of the (car),” Smyrna police spokesman Officer Louis Defense told Channel 2.
Islas’ family said the Marietta High School graduate was attending Atlanta Technical College preparing to become a nurse.
“It’s just not fair,” aunt Jessicia Barron said. “It’s not fair. It happens to people who are trying to be on a good path.”
According to police, Taylor was driving on a suspended license for a previous DUI, had no insurance or registration and was driving with a fake tag.
Taylor also had a warrant for her arrest in South Carolina, Channel 2 reported. She remained in the Cobb County Detention Center on vehicular homicide, DUI and traffic-related charges.
Services for Islas will be held at noon Wednesday at the Vinings Lake Church in Mableton. Visitation will take place from 10 a.m. to noon. Donations to the family can be made online.
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