A second arrest was made yesterday as a result of the April collision thought to be the result of racing at the intersection of Floyd Road and Bates Drive.
According to a press release from Officer Sydney Melton of the Cobb County Police Department, Xavier Flores, 26, of Marietta, was arrested on charges of racing, reckless driving, two counts of first-degree vehicular homicide, and two counts of felony hit-and-run.
Investigators from the The Cobb County Police Department Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Unit investigated the incident, which occurred on Sunday, April 7, 2019 at 4:44 p.m.
An arrest had already been made in the collision. A warrant had been taken out for George Cambi, 19, of Austell. on April 15, and he turned himself in to the Cobb County jail the same day.
The STEP department’s investigations led them to believe that one of the vehicles involved in the alleged race was a 2007 Chevy Trailblazer owned by Flores. They took out a warrant for him yesterday, and he was arrested and booked into the Cobb County jail.
The collision
James Wheeler, 31, of Acworth, and Douglas Duff, Jr, of Mableton were killed in the collision.
According to investigators, at 4:44 p.m. on Sunday, April 7, a 2010 Toyota driven by Wheeler was headed west on Bates Road approaching Floyd Road. Wheeler turned left onto Floyd Road into the path of a northbound 2006 Infiniti driven by Cambi. The two vehicles then collided.
Cambi and a juvenile passenger were taken to Wellstar Cobb Hospital with non-lifethreatening injuries. Wheeler and his passenger, Duff, were transported to the same hospital and were declared dead.
What is the STEP Unit?
The STEP Unit, which investigates fatal traffic crashes, is one of the Cobb County Police Department’s Special Operations units, and is described on the web page of the Cobb County Police Department as follows:
“The Selective Traffic Enforcement Unit is responsible for investigating all fatal traffic crashes, enforcement of traffic laws in those areas which analysis indicates an elevated amount of crashes. They are also responsible for the administration and execution of the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program. They also take part in special security details, and investigate crashes involving Department vehicles when requested.”
