Milton Woman Indicted In Fatal Crash

WOODSTOCK, GA — A Milton woman has been indicted on charges in a fatal crash that killed a Woodstock resident in November 2017. A Cherokee County grand jury indicted Kendall Elizabeth Texter, 19, on one count of homicide by vehicle in the first degree, two counts of serious injury by vehicle, three counts of reckless driving, speeding, improper passing and possession of marijuana less than an ounce, court records show.

Texter was involved in the two-vehicle crash on East Cherokee Drive in the Hickory Flat community. The Georgia State Patrol was dispatched to the crash around 12:50 p.m. Nov. 2, 2017, near Alpha Equestrian Center at 2471 East Cherokee Drive.

According to an accident report released by the state agency, a 2010 Ford Fusion driven by Texter was traveling northbound on East Cherokee Drive while a 2015 Ford Focus operated by Mary Frances Griffin of Woodstock was going southbound in the same area. The report indicates Texter failed to maintain her lane and moved into the southbound lane in an effort to pass an unknown vehicle in front of her.

"The roadway is marked with a double yellow line in this area," the investigating trooper wrote in the report.

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Griffin's vehicle, which had just traveled over a slightly elevated location, tried avoid colliding with Texter, but both cars crashed head-on. Texter was transported to North Fulton Hospital for treatment while Griffin was taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital. Griffin suffered massive internal injuries as well as to her spine, wrist, femur and talus. According to an obituary, she passed away on Nov. 11, 2017, at the age of 64.

Texter is accused of speeding at 78 miles per hour at the time of the accident. The indictment notes the speed limit on that stretch of East Cherokee Drive is 45 miles per hour. According to warrants obtained by the state patrol, the marijuana was found in a plastic jar inside a pink handbag. Texter is scheduled to be arraigned at 9 a.m. Aug. 2 in Courtroom 2D at the Cherokee County Justice Center.

Photo: Kendall Elizabeth Texter. Credit: Cherokee Sheriff's Office