Police arrest truck driver in fatal I-285 wreck
Police have arrested an El Paso, Texas, man whose tractor-trailer struck and killed a Sandy Springs woman 15 days ago.
Rosario Velez, 44, was making a phone call from the emergency lane on westbound I-285 at Riverside Drive when her minivan was hit by the 18-wheeler. Sandy Springs police said the driver, Joseph Leon Golden, 43, crossed over into the emergency lane. The collision, which caused bout 15 gallons of diesel to leak from the truck's fuel tanks, halted all westbound traffic for more than an hour.
Golden, charged with a lane violation and second-degree vehicular homicide, is being held at the Fulton County Jail on $5,500 bond. His first court appearance is set for Wednesday morning unless he posts bail.
About the Author
A native Atlantan, Boone joined the AJC staff in 2007. He quickly carved out a niche covering crime stories, assuming the public safety beat in 2014. He's covered some of the biggest trials this decade, from Hemy Neuman to Ross Harris to Chip Olsen, the latter of which was featured on Season 7 of the AJC's award-winning "Breakdown" podcast.
