As the University of Georgia community continues to mourn the death of a 20-year-old student, Athens-Clarke County police are looking for the man accused of killing her Saturday in a hit-and-run, authorities said.
Police identified Donterris Gresham, 29, of Athens, as the suspect in the death of Ariana Zarse, police spokesman Lt. Shaun Barnett said Monday. An arrest warrant has been obtained for first-degree vehicular homicide, hit-and-run involving serious injury or death, failure to obey traffic control device, speeding and driving while unlicensed. He remains at large as police try to locate him.
On Saturday, officers responded to Broad Street near Foundry Street around midnight regarding the hit-and-run. The investigation revealed that Zarse was crossing Broad Street with a friend when a Honda Accord driven by Gresham hit her, Barnett said. Gresham fled the scene after the collision, Barnett added.
Zarse was taken to a hospital, where she died from her injuries. Her friend was not hit.
Investigators were able to locate the Honda soon after but were still working to determine who was driving it. Monday afternoon, police identified Gresham as the driver.
The tragedy has resulted in numerous posts about Zarse on social media from family and those in the UGA community. Most posts referred to Zarse’s recent participation in the Classic City Showdown at the Classic Center in Athens on Oct. 1.
The event featured U.S. boxing matches and sorority and fraternity boxing matches. Zarse competed and won while representing Pi Phi in the event that raised $20,250 for the Red Cross and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
Noting the joy Zarse felt during the competition, her father posted on her Instagram page Sunday to share the tragedy with friends while also emphasizing how he hoped his daughter would be remembered.
“She lived a great life,” he wrote. “And she would want all of us to remember her as we saw her after her charity boxing match — a bad ass!”
The post has since been flooded with comments from friends sharing memories and sending their condolences to the family.
“I’m so lucky I got to call her my big (sister). Your daughter has made such an impact in my life. She was everything I strive to be. I’ll miss her forever. Sending you all my love,” a Pi Phi sorority sister commented on the photo.
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