Racing, 100 MPH Speeding Factors In Fatal Duluth Crash; Driver Charged

DULUTH, GA — Racing and 100 mph speeding were factors in the deadly crash that killed five people and injured three others on Labor Day near Pleasant Hill Road, Gwinnett County Police said Wednesday.

Police identified Emanuel Rene Esfahani, 20, of Lawrenceville, as one of the drivers involved in the crash.

Esfahani was charged on suspicion of five counts of first-degree homicide by vehicle, reckless driving, racing, speeding, unsafe lane change and seatbelt required. Esfahani surrendered around 9 p.m. Tuesday and was booked into the Gwinnett County Jail.

The fatal three-vehicle pileup happened shortly before 4 a.m. on Sept. 4 on the University Parkway westbound ramp that leads to Interstate 85 southbound.

Gwinnett County Police said the vehicle carrying the people who died went over the wall of the raised ramp before falling onto the I-85 south collector-distributor to Pleasant Hill.

The people who died were identified as Katie Gaitan Miranda, 17, of Atlanta, Ashley Gaitan, 16, of Atlanta, Coral Lorenzo-Rosario, 17, of Atlanta, Hung Nguyen, 18, of Lawrenceville and Abner Santana, 19, of Suwanee, police said in the past.

The three people who were injured were taken to local hospitals, police said in the past.

RELATED: 5 Killed In I-85 S Labor Day Duluth Crash Id'd; 3 Were High Schoolers

The day after the crash, Lakeside High Principal Dr. Susan Stoddard identified in a letter to parents Miranda, Gaitan and Lorenzo-Rosario as Lakeside students.

Police said Wednesday Esfahani was driving an Infiniti G35 and was racing against Nguyen, who was driving a Toyota Tacoma carrying five other people.

"They were speeding in excess of 100 mph on the exit ramp from State Route 316 to Pleasant Hill Road when they came upon a vehicle traveling slower than they were," police said in a news release.

The Tacoma tried to pass on the left side while the Infiniti attempted to pass in a right lane that was likely designated for emergencies, police said.

The Infiniti rapidly approached a stopped box truck in the emergency lane and swerved to the left to avoid the truck. Police said the Infiniti swerved across the lanes and hit the Tacoma, mistakenly performing a pit maneuver.

Police said the Tacoma then lost traction and began to spin and roll before traveling right across the lanes and hitting a retaining wall.

"The excess speed caused it to carry over the wall and fall to the ramp 37 feet below," police said in the release.

GoFundMe accounts have raised thousands for the families of those who died in the crash.