Three Black children were struck by a car driven by an Atlanta area man. Police arrested the driver identified as Ryan Lisabeth, 28, at the scene and have stated that he appeared under the influence of drugs and was speeding when he struck the boys. Lisabeth clipped a truck and spun out of control and hit Isiah, 9, his brother Roland Ward, 11, and their friend Timothy Hood, 12. Lisabeth’s car struck the children with such force that one of them flew over a guardrail, across a fence and then down a hill. Isiah suffered traumatic brain and spinal injuries and was transported to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston. According to his family, the child is on life support and not expected to survive his injuries. The other children are in guarded condition.
After striking the children, Lisabeth tried to flee the scene of the accident but struck another vehicle and was forced to stop. When police arrived at the scene, he refused to open his car door and police used a baton to break the window and pull him from the car. According to witnesses, Lisabeth was incoherent and crying uncontrollably as he was arrested and transported by ambulance to Grady Memorial hospital for a medical examination.
A criminal records check has revealed that Lisabeth has been arrested at least four times since 2011 on charges of heroin possession and other drug related crimes. He was booked into custody at the Grady Hospital Detention Center and then transported to the Fulton County Jail. Lisabeth faces charges of DUI, driving on the wrong side of the road, possession, sale or distribution of a dangerous drug and serious injury caused by reckless driving. If Isiah dies from his injuries, then the charges against Lisabeth will be upgraded.
