A Cherokee County high school student is now facing charges in the Tuesday afternoon crash that killed one of his classmates and injured two others.
Authorities announced Friday that Yann “Fred” Engamba, the 17-year-old driver, was arrested on a charge of first-degree vehicular homicide in the death of Stephen Smith, 17, a senior and track athlete at Creekview High School.
RELATED: 'Charges are likely' in crash that killed teen, injured 3 others, officials say
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Engamba is also facing charges of serious injury by vehicle, reckless driving and failure to maintain lane, according to Cherokee sheriff’s spokesman Jay Baker. He was booked into the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center on Thursday night, where he is being held without bond.
Baker said Tuesday that the teens were driving on Old Orange Mill Road about 2 p.m. when the vehicle went down an embankment and hit a tree. Investigators initially said speed may have been a factor.
MORE: Creekview High School senior killed, 3 others injured in Cherokee wreck
Smith, the front-seat passenger, was dead at the scene. Engamba was taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital and later released.
Chase Burr, 17, and a 15-year-old passenger seated in the back were also taken to Kennestone. The 15-year-old was released, while Burr was still in the hospital Friday.
All were Creekview students, a school district spokeswoman said.
Burr was one of Smith’s teammates on the track and field team. The team said on Facebook on Thursday that Burr has a long road to recovery that will likely include physical therapy. He is expected to remain hospitalized for several weeks with a “very severe neck fracture,” a wrist fracture and bruised lungs, according to the post.
A GoFundMe page was set up to help the Burr family with medical expenses. It had raised $6,475 of its $15,000 goal Friday.
Another fundraiser was established for a memorial fund for the Smith family. As of Friday, it had exceeded its $15,000 goal.
Services for Smith are set for next week in Canton. A visitation is scheduled for Dec. 3 from 2 to 8 p.m. at Canton Funeral Home on East Cherokee Drive. His funeral will be held Dec. 4 at 11 a.m. at Revolution Church on Union Hill Trail.
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