Woman accused of deadly hit-and-run was involved in crash minutes earlier, police say

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — When it came to mentoring teen rugby players, Sam Stephenson says his friend Michael Farmer had a knack for it.

“He was just an infectiously kind person,” he told Channel 2′s Mike Petchenik. “Just the moment I met him, I knew he was going to be a good fit for for these kids.”

Stephenson and Farmer coached the club team at Roswell High School together.

“He’s a great guy to rely on giving, giving that positive feedback, making sure that the boys had something to hold on to after trainings or after games,” Stephenson said.

[READ: Woman arrested after 25-year-old and his dog killed in hit and run]

Stephenson and their community have been mourning the loss of Farmer, their kind and caring mentor, who was killed on Sunday.

Sandy Springs police said that Dominique Houston, 38, hit and killed Farmer in front of his Hammond Drive home while he walked his dog Bruce, who also died. Stephenson shared a photo of Farmer and Bruce when he was a puppy.

“He’s gonna be really, really missed. Just such a good person,” he said.

TRENDING STORIES:

• Police ID all 6 victims killed in fiery I-85 van crash in Gwinnett County
• 3 men accused in death of Ahmaud Arbery now facing federal hate crime charges
• Sheriff Victor Hill to return back to work after federal indictment

Police captured Houston miles away in Newnan after the crash. Officers said she had been running from the scene of another wreck on Roswell Road and Interstate 285 when she hit Farmer. Lusia Rosas was driving the car police said Houston rear-ended.

“All of a sudden she just pulled back and went around me and left,” Rosas said.

Rosas told Petchenik the crash left her with bad headaches, back and neck pain, and damage to her car. Police said Houston hit Farmer as she sped away from the first wreck.

“I believe she should be in jail. Because killing someone just like that and having no remorse and just leaving the scene like nothing happened,” Rosas said. “I mean, not thinking about another human being I think about their family. I mean, I don’t know. I think that is something would have happened to me. My kids would be devastated.”

Stephenson hopes Houston faces justice.

“I hope that the family can find some something positive and that that she will be she will be appropriately punished,” he said.

Houston is facing a number of charges including vehicular homicide and hit and run. A judge granted her bond and she could be released sometime Wednesday.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Woman accused of killing man, dog in Sandy Springs hit-and-run