An unlicensed Smyrna man is accused of causing and fleeing a crash that fatally ejected his passenger late Friday night, police said.
Maurice Carson, 48, was in the Cobb County jail Monday without bond on a charge of vehicular homicide along with a hit-and-run count, among other charges.
Police said Carson was driving a red Toyota Corolla east on Cochran Road about 11:10 p.m. when he veered into the path of a gray Toyota Sienna heading north on South Cobb Drive.
Thomas K. Durham, 31, of Antioch, Tennessee, was thrown from the rear seat of the car and pronounced dead at the scene.
Durham was not wearing a seat belt, Cobb police spokeswoman Alicia Chilton confirmed.
Carson, who is also charged with driving without a license, and the other passenger fled the scene but were arrested within hours.
A woman who lives near the scene told Channel 2 Action News she saw Carson try to jump her fence while running from police.
Carson and the other man were found 40 minutes later hiding near her shed, Berenice Salazar said.
According to Salazar, police said the men were doing drugs while hiding. Channel 2 also reported that drugs were found in the car.
Chilton said she could not confirm to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution if the men were using drugs.
When asked about the relationship between the three men, Chilton said they were acquaintances.
Carson, the other Corolla passenger and the driver of the Sienna were taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
The collision remains under investigation, and anyone with information can call 770-499-3987.
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