Sheriff: Driver Who Hit Child Has DUI History

ATLANTA,None — A Coweta County woman who authorities said is a repeat DUI offender was arrested again Saturday after running into an 11-year-old boy who was walking with his father, authorities said.

Coweta County Sheriff's Office investigators said Hannah Freeman, 27, of Newnan, was driving northbound on Welcome Arnco Road in a 1991 Honda Accord and lost control while trying to negotiate a curve. Authorities said Freeman hit a mailbox, then continued off the road and she struck the boy who was walking southbound.

According to a police report obtained by Channel 2, the impact of the boy's body hitting Freeman's windshield caused heavy damage. The boy was flown to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston with critical injuries.

The boy's father told Channel 2 Action News reporter Eric Philips that Freeman was so disoriented at the scene that she didn't realize she'd hit his son, Tracy Gaydoul. Gaydoul suffered two broken legs, a broken jaw and severe injuries to his face, according to his father, Eddie Blankenship.

"It'll be a long time before I'm able to forgive her for what she's done to my son," Blankenship said. "He was holding my hand when she hit him."

Freeman was arrested and charged with failure to maintain lane, DUI (drugs), and serious injury by motor vehicle. Investigators said she has one previous DUI pending in Coweta County, and that they are looking further into her arrest history.

WSBTV