Driver arrested in 2023 crash that killed man in Columbia County

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - After an 82-year-old man was killed in a Columbia County crash a few weeks before Christmas, a Thomson woman has been charged in connection, authorities say.

Brittany Michelle Hodges, 32, is charged with homicide by vehicle in the first degree, possession of schedule II drugs, failure to maintain lane, driving under the influence of drugs/less safe, reckless driving and driving while unlicensed or expired license, according to the sheriff’s office.

According to inmate bookings, her total bond amount is $14,600. She was booked into the Columbia County Detention Center on Feb. 8.

Around 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 8, Eugene Hester, 82, was driving a 2000 Nissan Frontier when he was killed after a crash on Interstate 20 near mile marker 194.5, according to the crash report from the Columbia County Sheriff’s office.

Hodges was driving a 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander and was marked at fault for the crash, the report states.

Officials report that Hester was traveling east on I-20, and the 32-year-old was traveling west when for “unknown reasons” she left the road, causing the front of her vehicle to hit the median barrier.

According to the report, Hodges then crossed two eastbound lanes before hitting Hester in the outside lane.

A toxicology report revealed Hodges tested positive for methadone, amphetamine, methamphetamine, lidocaine and citalopram.

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