Father Charged in I-85 Accident that Killed 7-Year-Old Son

Gwinnett Police have charged the driver in a fatal single-car accident on I-85 Wednesday afternoon that killed a 7-year-old boy and injured three other passengers.

Police say Juan C. Velazquez-Dominguez, 33, of Norcross was driving a 1998 Honda Accord southbound on I-85 in the Duluth area when the car veered off the road and struck the concrete base of the I-85/Boggs Road exit sign. He and his four passengers — three of whom were children — were all taken to hospitals.

The accident occurred around 3:50 p.m. Wednesday, July 30.

Two of the passengers were not restrained, according to Gwinnett Police Cpl. Ed Ritter, including 7-year-old Juan Velazquez, who died later at Gwinnett Medical Center. The boy’s relationship to the driver was not released.

A 5-year-old girl also was not restrained. She was taken to Scottish Rite Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Also injured were a 35-year-old woman, who was transported to Gwinnett Medical Center, and a 10-year-old boy, who was taken to Scottish Rite. Their injuries were believed to be not life-threatening.

Velazquez-Dominguez, who was still in the hospital Thursday, will be charged with second-degree vehicular homicide, no driver’s license, improper lane change/failure to maintain lane, no safety restraint/child, and reckless conduct.