Update on April 21, 2025 @ 7:45 p.m.
After a fatal hit-and-run crash in downtown Gainesville on Monday, an arrest has been made.
The Gainesville Police Department (GPD) reports that after an investigation, 29-year-old Janet Villanueva of Gainesville has been charged with homicide by vehicle in the first degree, serious injury by motor vehicle, felony hit-and-run, failure to yield right of way to pedestrian in a crosswalk, and driver to exercise due regard.
The victim has been identified as 61-year-old Phillip Adams who was hit and killed while crossing Academy Street.
77-year-old Linda Tench remains hospitalized.
Tench was reportedly pushing Adams across the roadway in a wheelchair when the vehicle failed to yield and struck them both.
The vehicle then fled the scene without stopping. Both victims were taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) in critical condition and Adams died at the hospital.
Tench is in stable condition at last report.
Original story published on April 21, 2025 @ 12:05 p.m.
The intersection at Bradford Street and West Academy Street in downtown Gainesville was blocked late Monday morning due to an accident involving pedestrians.
Gainesville Police Department, Gainesville Fire Department and Hall County Fire Rescue crews responded to the scene. Multiple eyewitnesses told AccessWDUN the accident happened shortly after 11:20 a.m. and involved two pedestrians, including one in a wheelchair.
A statement issued by Gainesville Police Department Lieutenant Kevin Holbrook said one victim is in critical condition and that the Georgia State Patrol is investigating the crash.
Eyewitnesses said the accident happened when the pedestrians were attempting to cross the crosswalk from the north side of W. Academy Street southward towards one of the downtown parking decks when they were hit by a vehicle coming off of Bradford Street, making a left turn onto W. Academy Street.
