A 17-year-old is sitting in the Gwinnett County Jail after police say he was one of two drivers racing on Interstate 985 near Buford, Georgia, in the early morning hours last Thursday.
According to investigators, Engerberth Mejia Rivera was behind the wheel of a 2013 BMW while racing a 2013 Infiniti when the two vehicles reached approximately 121 mph in a 70-mph zone.
Police say the race ended when Rivera crashed into an uninvolved driver, leaving the victim with broken bones. Investigators also allege Rivera fled the scene instead of stopping to help or provide information.
By Friday, Rivera had been charged with eight offenses, including felony hit-and-run resulting in serious injury and serious injury by vehicle. A judge denied bond on both felony counts, citing flight risk.
Teen Accused of Racing at 121 MPH on I-985
Hit-and-Run After the Crash: The Charge That Matters Most
Of all the charges Rivera faces, the felony hit-and-run count may draw the most attention. Police say he left the scene after a crash that seriously injured another driver rather than stopping to provide aid or information.
Georgia law requires drivers involved in injury crashes to stop, render aid, and provide their information. Leaving the scene of a crash involving serious injury is a felony offense.
Rivera was also charged with serious injury by vehicle, reckless stunt driving, speeding, and driving without a valid license. According to police, he was 17 years old and did not have a valid license at the time of the crash.
The judge’s decision to deny bond on both felony counts suggests the court is treating the allegations seriously.
Gwinnett County’s Street Racing Problem Is Not New
Gwinnett County authorities have dealt with organized and informal street racing for years, and major roads such as I-985 and I-85 continue to attract drivers looking for long, open stretches of pavement.
This is not the first serious street-racing crash the county has seen this year. In March, two drivers were reportedly racing on Breckinridge Boulevard near Lawrenceville when one vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree, killing the driver.
Following that crash, Gwinnett County Police Cpl. Angela Carter warned that street racing continues to attract young drivers despite the risks. Thursday’s crash serves as another reminder that when races go wrong, innocent motorists often end up caught in the consequences.