Left-Turn Accidents Lead to Fatality, Serious Injury

Gwinnett Police say a Norcross-area woman has been arrested and charged with vehicular homicide stemming from a Thursday accident that killed a Lilburn motorcyclist.

The accident, which occurred around 7:19 p.m. on Jimmy Carter Boulevard near Hunters Club Lane, was one of two serious accidents reported Thursday involving drivers turing in front of another vehicle.

“Though both of these incidents occurred many miles away from one another, the maneuver of the vehicles was the same: Failure to Yield While Turning Left,” Gwinnett Police Public Information Officer Cpl. Michele Pihera said in a news release.

OCGA 40-6-71, Vehicle Turning Left Law

The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left within an intersection or into an alley, private road, or driveway shall yield the right of way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction which is within the intersection or so close thereto as to constitute an immediate hazard.

Wanda Berry, 38, was charged with vehicular homicide and failure to yield. Police said she was traveling west on Jimmy Carter and was preparing to turn left on Hunters Club when she drove her Nissan Altima in front of a motorcycle being driven by Ul Haq Alvi, 26, of Lilburn, who died at the scene. Speed and alcohol were not contributing factors.

Earlier Thursday, police said the driver of a Toyota Camry was seriously injured after allegedly turning in front of a tractor trailer on Buford Drive near Plunketts Road in the Buford area. The accident happened around 4:39 p.m. The driver was taken to Gwinnett Medical Center. Charges are possible.

The driver was attempting to turn left onto Plunketts Road from westbound Buford Drive when the collision occurred. peed and alcohol were not contributing factors.