DeKalb High School Student Who Killed Teacher in Car Crash Arrested: Police

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The driver behind the wheel of the vehicle which killed a DeKalb County high school teacher has been arrested by Decatur police.

According to police spokeswoman Lt. Jennifer Ross, 19-year-old Ramiro Pedemonte of Tucker was taken into custody without incident on Thursday and now faces charges of first degree vehicular homicide, serious injury by vehicle and reckless driving for the death of Leah O’Brien, a 33-year-old teacher at Lakeside High School. Pedemonte and an 18-year-old riding with him were traveling to the Lakeside High School prom, a dance at which O’Brien was to chaperon.

Earlier this week, Ross explained that a vehicle attempting to turn on to eastbound Scott Boulevard from Ridley Circle collided with another vehicle traveling westbound on Scott Boulevard at 6 p.m. Saturday. O’Brien died in the collision; her 8-year-old daughter was taken to the hospital and is reportedly in critical but stable condition.

“That was their favorite teacher. It’s just like, wow. They knew each other. Everyone in that car had a relationship with her,” Lakeside High student Erykah Hodges told CBS-46.

Grief counseling services are being offered to Lakeside High School for students, according to WSB-2. O’Brien was a chairperson of Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) club at the school and both of the teens were members of the club.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Ms. Leah O’Brien. The entire Viking nation is grieving the loss of one of our best,” the electronic sign outside the school read Monday morning, according to Channel 11.