GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Some Gwinnett County neighbors say they’re fed up with street racing in their community. A recent street racing crash killed a neighbor on her way to work.
Channel 2 Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson has learned that there have been changes since the deadly crash that killed Susan Kirkland.
But some neighbors say it’s bittersweet that it took a tragedy to make change happen.
“If you don’t have any deaths, you have no priority,” neighbor Michael Auten said.
Auten told Johnson that he petitioned Gwinnett County as recently as last year for a traffic light on Old Norcross Road.
He said nothing changed until a crash linked to street racing killed his neighbor, Kirkland, last month.
“I would sacrifice vindication to have my friend back,” Auten said.
On July 22, police said Kirkland turned left out of Glen Chase Drive on her way to work at around 5:30 p.m.
Gwinnett police said a street race started when Fabian Harris cut off Michael Pestle’s motorcycle, and neither man let up.
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Corporal Nicholas Anderson with the Gwinnett County Police Department testified on Wednesday that they weaved past six cars at 93 mph and 70 mph, in a 45-mph zone before Harris T-boned her.
Pestle is accused of swerving out of the way, then going home.
“He stated he was in shock from the accident and decided to go home,” Anderson said.
“There shouldn’t be an opportunity to operate a vehicle at 93 miles an hour in a residential area,” Auten said.
The cameras Auten helped to get 20 years ago gave police evidence to link this to racing, and it showed him how his friend died.
“I don’t want anybody else to look at it. It’s disturbing,” Auten said.
After the crash, Auten has watched new signs and a speed radar go up out front.
A county spokesperson said patrols are up too, and more changes are still being reviewed.
“It’s my sole purpose to see that it’s finally fixed and fixed for good,” Auten said.
Both suspects are being charged with first-degree vehicular homicide. Pestle is also being charged with hit-and-run for allegedly leaving the scene.