Cops: Austell man was DUI, speeding in fatal crash

A Cobb County man was driving nearly double the speed limit while under the influence of alcohol when he caused a crash that killed his passenger and injured a bicyclist, according to police.

Therman E. Kilcrease, 31, of Austell, has been charged with first degree vehicular homicide, serious injury by vehicle, cocaine possession and DUI for the Oct. 29 crash, according to an arrest warrant obtained Friday by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

After consuming alcohol, Kilcrease was allegedly driving a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 86 mph in a 45-mph zone on Riverside Parkway when he lost control of the car, hit a bicyclist, ran off the road and struck a tree, according to Cobb police. The impact caused the car to flip over, killing Kilcrease’s front-seat passenger, Ollie Regina Jones, 52, of Austell, police said.

The bicyclist, Antonio Walker, 43, of Atlanta, was seriously injured, but survived his injuries, according to police. Walker sustained spinal cord and neck injuries, the arrest warrant states.

Kilcrease was also injured in the crash and was transported by ambulance to Atlanta Medical Center.

“The hospital records obtained from Atlanta Medical Center by means of a search warrant, noted the ‘smells of alcohol’ at admission,” the arrest warrant states. “A clear plastic baggie of suspected powder cocaine (was) found among said accused personal effects at the scene of the collision.”

Jones’ daughter told police her mother and Kilcrease had consumed alcohol prior to the crash, which happened just before 11 p.m.

Kilcrease was also charged with reckless driving, failure to maintain his lane, and speeding, all misdemeanors, according to his warrant. As of early Friday, he had not been booked into the Cobb jail.