Clayton News Daily

By Daniel Silliman

dsilliman@news-daily.com

A speeding, Pontiac Sunfire crashed Sunday night, ejecting three passengers from the car, killing one.

Clayton County Police Lt. C.S. Hammer reported that the two-door, green, 1997 Sunfire was speeding north on Tara Boulevard, near the intersection of Bridgeport Lane, and was weaving in and out of traffic. The driver, 23-year-old Timothy Earl James, of Jonesboro, lost control of the vehicle, which swerved into the grassy median, crossed back over the road, and flipped several times, striking a tree, then landing upside down.

James was found underneath the Pontiac, at about 12:30 a.m., and was dead at the scene. The two passengers -- 17-year-old Melanie S. Melchor, and 19-year-old Davaros L. Wilson, both, of Jonesboro -- were found by paramedics about 135 feet from the crashed car. Both of the ejected teens had suffered serious injuries to their heads.

Melchor was flown to Atlanta Medical Center, where she was listed in critical condition the day after the accident. Wilson was flown to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he remained unconscious and heavily sedated on Monday.

Wounded man found bleeding in highway median

Clayton County Police found a 47-year-old man shot in his upper chest and lying on his back on the concrete median of Ga. Highway 85.

The man, Juan Ricardo Duron, of Alpharetta, appeared to have been in a fight, according to Police Officer Mike Hobbs.

When police arrived at 3:20 a.m. Sunday, and asked him what happened, he pointed toward a Publix parking lot and said: "I don't know who shot me. They shot me in the parking lot."

Police discovered blood on the side walk in from of Cici's Pizza, 7523 Hwy. 85. They also found a black-and-gray cell phone and a green golf shirt, according to the police report. Duron was flown by helicopter to Atlanta Medical Center, and is in "stable but critical condition."

Doctors removed a bullet from his body. The investigation is ongoing, spokesman Capt. Greg Dickens said.

Obstructing

intersection, man dead in van

Clayton County Police found a Chevrolet van blocking the intersection of International Parkway and C.W. Grant Parkway, and found a man dead inside.

Police were called out to the scene because the 1993 van was obstructing the intersection, but found 47-year-old Lenoard J. Omelia, of Locust Grove, was dead in the driver's seat.

Officer Todd Stoyka reported that there were "no signs of foul play," and a Georgia Bureau of Investigation medical examiner concluded the 47-year-old died of natural causes.

The van was locked, when police arrived on Dec. 26, and police and paramedics broke through the window to get to Omelia.