Man accused in fatal crash had 3 previous DUI charges

A suspected drunken driver with prior DUI arrests is accused of hitting and killing a Gwinnett County mother just days before Christmas.

Marvin Bonilla faces vehicular homicide and DUI charges in connection with a head-on collision that killed Lisa Cox early Saturday, authorities said.

Lisa Cox (Credit: Channel 2 Action News)

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Cox, who sewed costumes for the Medieval Times show, was on her way home at the time of the deadly crash on Ga. 316, according to Channel 2 Action News.

Her husband of 35 years, Rodney Cox, spoke to the news station.

“I can accept accidents,” he said. “But while this was an accident, it was an accident that could have been prevented.”

Jail records show Bonilla was arrested three times in 2011 on DUI charges.

This time, Bonilla is being held in the Gwinnett County jail without bond as the Cox family makes funeral arrangements during the holidays.

“She was the best mother there was,” daughter Hope Cox told Channel 2. “She gave me everything I wanted.”