A father and son accused of running from Johns Creek police and causing a crash that killed a couple in Gwinnett County appeared before a judge Thursday morning for a preliminary hearing.
According to Channel 2 Action News, police alleged in court that Larry Thomas, the father, had 170 grams of suspected crystal meth on the floorboard of his car and a white, powdery substance in his nose. Police also said Thomas' speech was slurred after the wreck, and he admitted to smoking pot earlier.
About 10:35 p.m., a Johns Creek police officer spotted a white Ford Crown Victoria that resembled a police car and looked suspicious with its multiple antennas, Johns Creek police Capt. Chris Byers previously said.
The officer tried to pull over the vehicle, driven by Thomas, for an equipment violation, Byers said.
Thomas appeared to stop, then accelerated, initiating a 2-minute, 4-mile police chase that reached speeds up to 83 mph before the Crown Victoria collided with a silver Mercedes at the intersection of Peachtree Parkway and Jay Bird Alley in Gwinnett County, authorities said.
The occupants of the Mercedes — Krawczynski and Krawczynska — were killed, police said. They were returning home from a dinner celebrating Gurtler-Krawczynska's 78th birthday.
In court Thursday morning, police said officers found pot, heroin, scales and baggies in a duffle bag in the back of the Thomas' car after the deadly wreck, according to Channel 2. Despite those claims, father and son denied possessing and using drugs prior to the crash.
Police said Larry and Jesse Thomas are under federal investigation for meth and gun possession in their home state of Tennessee, according to Channel 2.
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