DRUNK DRIVER IN FATAL ACWORTH, GA COLLISION GETS PRISON TIME. THE DRIVER'S BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT WAS OVER THREE TIMES THE LEGAL LIMIT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
February 5,
2015
An Acworth,
Georgia man who killed another person as the result of a drunk driving wreck
will spend the rest of the decade behind bars, the Cobb County District
Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday.
Kenneth Lee
Chitwood, 49, was behind the wheel of his Chevrolet Silverado just after
midnight on Feb. 22, 2014 when he slammed into a stationary pickup truck which
was parked on a section of Mars Hill Road near Cobb Parkway which is not used
for traffic, the DA’s Office said.
The driver
of the second truck, James Payton Underwood of Paulding County, was standing
next to his vehicle when the accident occurred. Underwood, 50, was knocked to
the ground as a result of the collision and was pronounced dead a short time
later, leaving behind four children.
According
to the DA’s Office, Chitwood’s blood alcohol content at the time of the
accident was 0.27, over three times the legal limit.
Chitwood
pleaded guilty to DUI and homicide by vehicle on Tuesday and was sentenced to
15 years, with five to be served behind bars and the rest on probation.
“Mr.
Underwood’s death was so utterly senseless and preventable,” ADA John Pursley
said. “Drinking and driving is never acceptable.”