Man Charged in Wreck that Killed Wife

A former Cobb County resident has been arrested and charged with vehicular homicide for the death of his wife in an April car accident in Marietta.

Louis E. Hayles, 72 was driving his 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass with his wife Deborah, 60 in the passenger seat at approximately 3 p.m. on April 6 when Louis attempted to turn left from westbound lanes of Windy Hill Road into a Food Depot parking lot near Bouldercrest drive, Cobb County police said.

A 2004 blue Dodge Ram with a utility trailer was traveling eastbound on Windy Hill Road at the same time and struck the passenger side of the Oldsmobile, according to police. The driver of the Dodge was not injured in the collision and has not been charged with any crime.

Deborah was rushed to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital after the accident, but died from her injuries, police said in April. Louis was also transported to the hospital for treatment of injuries.

Cobb County jail records indicate that Louis Hayles was arrested at his Decatur residence on Wednesday and now faces second degree vehicular homicide and failure to yield charges. He is being held on a $10,000 bond.