Crime & Safety

Crane Crash Kills 1, 3 Kids Survive; 'Hero' Helps Residents Escape Fire

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Report: 'Hero' Helps Apartment Residents Escape Fire - Stone Mountain-Lithonia Patch

A man is being called hero for helping residents out of a 7 a.m. fire at Terra Creek Apartments in unincorporated Stone Mountain, Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

He reportedly carried one resident, who was coughing heavily, out of the building to safety. Go to Stone Mountain-Lithonia Patch for updates.

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Man Charged in DUI Death Released on Bond - Douglasville Patch

Charged with DUI and vehicular homicide in the death of Grady Hospital EMT Jason Dale Strickland, Francisco Ferrer, 32 of Dallas, was allowed to bond out of jail.

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Douglas County Superior Court Judge Robert James set Ferrer's bond at $300,000 in an order, filed with the County Clerk's Office on Dec. 26. James had originally denied bond to Ferrer in April of 2012, when he was originally in court.

It is not clear why the change in decision. James' office said the judge would not comment on an on-going case.

One Dead in Smyrna Wreck Involving Crane - Smyrna-Vinings Patch

Cobb County police are investigating a two-vehicle crash Thursday afternoon in Smyrna that killed a Buford resident.

According to a CCPD news release, the crash about 1:43 p.m. on the westbound Interstate 285 ramp to South Cobb Drive involved a red and white 1998 Link Belt HTC8670 crane truck, which was was stopped in traffic.

It was struck in the rear by a black 2012 Chevrolet Cruze, which then rolled backwards down the ramp toward southbound traffic on I-285, coming to a stop after rolling down the embankment between the interstate and ramp.


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