For more on the previous criminal background of the person who allegedly caused the wreck, read "Man in I-20 crash arrested twice in 4 days."
A college student’s apparent attempt to be a good Samaritan ended in tragedy Sunday, when a 19-year-old Covington man and 35-year-old Alpharetta woman were killed in a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 20 early Sunday morning by an alleged drunk driver.
Bruce Reeves, 19, and Tonya Curtis, 35, were killed and five others were injured after the driver of a Toyota Camry reportedly stopped on the highway to help people in a Chevrolet Sonic that had run out of fuel, and both cars were allegedly hit by a Jeep Patriot driven by 29-year-old Conyers man, Kevin Poynter.
The crash occurred around 3:30 a.m. on I-20 eastbound near mile marker 87 in Newton County.
Poynter was initially charged with two misdemeanors, possession of marijuana less than one ounce and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs; he bonded out Tuesday. The crash remains under investigation, but the Georgia State Patrol is expected to file further charges following its full investigation. Blood was drawn from Poynter for analysis.
According to the investigating trooper, the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic ran out of fuel early Sunday and was stopped on the south shoulder. The driver of a 1997 Toyota Camry stopped to assist the driver of the Sonic.
"At the time of the crash, the Toyota was leaving to get gas and was stopped in the right travel lane to obtain money for the fuel," according to a GSP spokesman.
A 2004 Jeep Patriot being driven by Poynter struck the Camry in the rear and side-swiped the Sonic.
Reeves, who had been traveling in the Sonic, was standing between the Sonic and Camry and was killed, as was Curtis, who was the front-seat passenger in the Camry.
The other four people injured included Christian Martin, 20, the driver of the Camry, and Covington residents Timaya Belcher, 18, the driver of the Sonic and the Sonic’s two passengers, Camesha Belcher, 18, and Dezirae Boswell, 18. All of the injured people, including Poynter, were treated at Newton Medical Center. Everyone besides Poynter was released.
Reporter Gabriel Khouli and Rockdale News Editor Michelle Kim contributed to this story.
