A Lumpkin County man has been charged in connection with a one-vehicle accident in North Hall over the weekend and despite “overwhelming” evidence to the contrary denies he was driving.
The state patrol released details of the wreck Tuesday morning saying David James Burnett, 29, Dahlonega fled the scene on foot after leaving Cleveland Highway at Honeysuckle Road, striking a stop sign and several trees before his SUV came to a stop.
The accident report says “(Burnett) then fled the scene, walking to a nearby gas station before the investigating Trooper arrived on scene. Driver 1 stated he was not driving, nor in the vehicle, at the time of the crash. Note: The investigating Trooper has an overwhelming amount of evidence placing Driver 1 behind the (wheel) at the time of the crash.”
Burnett was charged with:
*DUTY TO STOP AT ACCIDENT (HIT AND RUN, LEAVING SCENE OF ACC.
*OPEN CONTAINER VIOLATION WHILE OPERATING MOTOR VEHICLE
*SEAT BELT VIOLATION; REQUIRED USAGE
*DUI – ALCOHOL/LESS SAFE
*FAILURE TO MAINTAIN LANE
He remained in the Hall County Jail Tuesday morning in lieu of $5,190 bond.