Driver Who Died in Pond Was Johns Creek Middle School Teacher

By Scott Bernarde

The Duluth-area woman who died after driving her car into a Peachtree Corners retention pond Wednesday morning was a middle school teacher in Fulton County.

Laura Jones Tavel, 53, of Duluth taught at River Trail Middle School in Jones Creek. She taught seventh-grade Social Studies, according to the school’s website.

WSB-TV reported witnesses told authorities the woman didn’t appear to have tried to get out of the car while it was sinking.

Check out the WSB report here

Gwinnett Police said Tavel was traveling east on Peachtree Corners Circle between Peachtree Parkway and Medlock Bridge Road when it left the road for an unknown reason at a curve in the roadway.

“The driver was unable to exit the vehicle and died on scene after the vehicle sank into approximately 15-20 feet of water,” Gwinnett Police said in a news alert Wednesday.

Gwinnett firefighters arrived on the scene at 7:32 a.m.

“Witness reported that a person was inside the vehicle at the time,” Capt. Tommy Rutledge said in an email alert around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday. “Crews made attempts to gain access, but have been unsuccessful at this time. The Hall County Dive Team has been requested to respond.”

Rutledge told WSB later that witnesses said they saw Tavel in the car in the water and “there didn’t appear to be any attempts to try and exit the vehicle.” There were no skid marks on the roadway.

The Gwinnett medical examiner said drowning was the cause of death, but the circumstances behind why she drove into the pond were still under investigation.