Authorities Monday said a list of charges are pending for an Athens man who allegedly caused a traffic accident that claimed the life of an unborn baby in Barrow County last week.
The head-on crash happened this past Thursday when the suspect allegedly led law enforcement on a chase that started with a deputy being hit by the suspect truck, according to a Barrow County Sheriff's Office news release.
The accused, Aubrey Franklin Arnold, 36, remained hospitalized at Piedmont Athens Regional Monday. The Barrow County Sheriff's Office has personnel at the hospital ready to arrest Arnold when he is discharged, according to the release.
Authorities initially responded to the report of a person wanted for felony warrants out of Barrow and Jackson counties at the Shell Food Mart at 1233 Atlanta Highway.
A deputy approached Arnold and asked him to step out of his Chevrolet pickup truck, according Barrow County Sheriff's Captain Ryan Sears.
"He (Arnold) drove off, striking our deputy with the side of the truck, and then a pursuit ensured," Sears said. "He (deputy) is fine, no serious injuries on him. He was actually able to get back to his car and participate in the pursuit," Sears said in a phone interview.
Arnold allegedly led deputies on a chase that lasted several miles. It went up Bowman Mill Road to Georgia 82, where it turned right, or eastbound, according to Sears.
The head-on crash happened just east of Georgia 211 when Arnold's truck hit a westbound car. A woman in the car, Nichole Faith Allen, 27, of Winder, lost her unborn baby as a result of the crash.
"The suspect (Arnold) was ejected from his truck, I believe she (Allen) was actually entrapped in her vehicle for a short period of time until the medical personnel were able to get her out," Sears said.
He described injuries to both Arnold and Allen as serious. Allen was also transported to the Athens hospital.
"There was a third-party vehicle that was also involved. He (driver) did not sustain any serious injuries in the crash," Sears said.
The Georgia State Patrol was contacted to investigate the collision. In addition to the pending traffic charges, Sears said he confirmed Monday that the warrants mentioned in the original report on Thursday were valid.
The sheriff's office also offered its support to the family of the victim.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Allen family in this extremely difficult time," Sheriff Jud Smith said in the release. "This recidivist is currently in custody and will be taken to the detention center as soon as he is released from the hospital."
Arnold served less than 9 months in prison on a possession of methamphetamine charge beginning in June of 2013, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections website.
"According to records obtained from the Superior Court of Barrow County, Aubrey Arnold has been arrested and convicted multiple times on different charges out of Barrow and Jackson Counties," the sheriff's office media release stated.
