An Acworth man who caused a three-car crash on I-75 in Marietta before hopping a fence and running away was arrested about an hour later, authorities say.
Jesse Lantzer didn’t have a license on Friday, when police say he drove a Ford Mustang so recklessly he caused a chain reaction crash on I-75 south of North Marietta Parkway. He lost his license for failure to pay child support in 2012, according to police records.
Lantzer rear-ended a woman driving a Mercedes so hard that she hit the pickup truck in front of her, witnesses told state troopers. His Mustang went several hundred more yards before leaving the road and heading toward the guardrail.
MORE: 2 drivers flee after 3-car accident on I-75 in Cobb
The driver of the white pickup truck drove away from the scene of the accident, but witnesses were more concerned with the 25-year-old who caused the crash, according to the Georgia State Patrol.
When the Mustang finally stopped, Lantzer grabbed his things from the car and the trunk, hopped a fence and ran toward Pickens Industrial Drive, near Allgood Road, troopers said.
All witnesses described a man with tattoos and long, black shorts with a logo, a gray tank top and a black hat. One witness took pictures as Lantzer climbed the fence, according to the state patrol report.
Lantzer was arrested about an hour later, after multiple 911 calls reported a “suspicious person” at 829 Pickens Industrial Drive.
Georgia State Trooper A. Medders wrote in his report that Lantzer had constricted pupils and was obviously high on drugs when found.
“He had obvious sores on his face, chest and arms consistent with methamphetamine use,” Medders wrote. “He was sweating profusely and could not hold still.”
Medders further described Lantzer’s erratic behavior, writing Lantzer complained he was uncomfortable and restless while in the patrol car.
“He was also at times grinding his teeth so loud it caused me to cringe,” Medders wrote.
Authorities got warrants to test Lantzer’s blood and urine for drugs, charged him with DUI, reckless driving, following too closely, hit and run and driving without a license.
He was taken to a local hospital for drug testing before being booked into the Smyrna jail.
