🌱 Ford Seeks New Gwinnett Trial + I-85 Vehicle Erupts In Flames

Good morning, neighbors! It's Thursday in Dacula and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in town.

But first, today's weather:

Breezy in the morning. High: 73 Low: 55.

🏡 Attention, real estate pros in Dacula! We're now offering an exclusive sponsorship opportunity for an agent interested in attracting local clients and standing apart from the competition. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top three stories in Dacula today:

1. Ford Motor Co. is actively seeking a new trial after a Gwinnett County jury ordered the carmaker to pay $1.7 billion in damages to the children of a couple that was killed during an April 2014 rollover crash. Melvin Hill, 72 years old, and Voncile Hill, 62 years old, died when their 2002 Ford F-250 pickup truck rolled over in Reynolds, Georgia. The wrongful death claim alleges that the roof design was defective. (RDN)
2. A vehicle abruptly erupted in flames on Wednesday morning on the side of Interstate 85 in Gwinnett County. The fire occurred at Jimmy Carter Boulevard. A fuel leak created a line of flames away from the vehicle. It is currently unclear if any injuries were sustained during the fire. (11 Alive)
3. Ahead of Hurricane Ian's landfall in Georgia, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for Gwinnett County and across the state. The declaration, made Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m., applies to all of the state's counties. Hurricane Ian is currently a powerful Category Five tropical storm and is expected to hit later in the week. (GPB News)

Today in and around Dacula:

• Pop-Up Park Picnic At Rabbit Hill Park, Dacula (7:00 AM)
• Baby and Me At The Hamilton Mill Public Library, Dacula (11:00 AM)
• Beginners' Guide To Meal Planning At Snellville Public Library (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Gwinnett County Public Library's Student Film Fest begins accepting submissions on Tuesday, Nov. 1. Have you started filming? (GwinnettPl.org)
• Gwinnett County's Hispanic Latino Heritage Month Celebration is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 4 at GJAC Auditorium in nearby Lawrenceville from 6:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Mark your calendar! (Gwinnett County)
• The Gwinnett County Police Department is currently recruiting. Click to learn more about the open positions and apply if you are interested. (Gwinnett County)

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Events:

• Elisha Winn Fair (October 1)
• Diabetes Undone FREE Info Meeting (October 2)
• Add your event

Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll see you soon!

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a senior writer with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.