Weekend Car Crashes Cause Two Deaths

Cheyenne Sauls, 16, of Villa Rica, was killed when she was thrown from a vehicle Saturday at approximately 2 a.m. in a car crash on Pleasant Drive, near Bright Star Road in Douglas County. Driver of the vehicle, Jason Lark, 17, has been charged with DUI, serious injury by vehicle and vehicular homicide in the first degree after he lost control of his Blazer SUV, which overturned several times.

According to Deputy Chief Stan Copeland, Douglas County Sherrif's Department, Lark, who attended Alexander High School, is currently being held in the Douglas County Jail after being denied bond this morning in Douglas County court.

According to Fox 5 News, Lark was already out on bond for drug and weapons charges when the accident occurred.

There were three other passengers in the vehicle, according to Lt. Paul Cosper, public spokesperson for the Georgia State Patrol. They were: Jamie McManis, 15, of Winston; Taylor Coss, 19, of Douglasville; and an unidentified male who left the scene before emergency personnel arrived.

Copeland said the unidentified male was located and interviewed. Further information is not being released because the investigation is still on-going.

"We're focusing on where the alcohol came from," Copeland said. "These kids were all underage."

A similar fatal accident occurred Sunday at approximately 2 a.m., killing Courtney Shipp, 24, of Villa Rica. Shipp was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Joshua Allen Garrison, 25, of Villa Rica, who lost control of his vehicle while driving on Berea Road in Douglas County.

"It appears his right side tires came off the roadway and he over-corrected. The vehicle was set into a spin counterclockwise and then crossed the center-line, crossing the Eastbound lane and then stuck a tree with the passenger side of the car, (where Shipp was sitting)" Cosper said.

"We're awaiting alcohol results," Copeland said, "because there is reason to believe alcohol was involved. If that's determined to be the case, then (Garrison) will also be charged with vehicular homicide."

No other vehicles were involved in the accident.

The Georgia State Troopers and the Georgia State Patrol Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team (SCRT) are investigating both accidents due to possible prosecutable fatalities.