New developments have emerged over the case of a known drug abuser who struck three children on an Atlanta street.
Ryan Lisabeth clipped a truck and spun out of control and hit Isaiah, 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. Isaiah suffered traumatic brain and spinal injuries and was transported to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston. The family has announced that Isaiah Ward has died from his injuries and the charges against Lisabeth have now been upgraded to vehicular homicide. This is in addition to his arrest on charges that include DUI, serious injury by vehicle, reckless driving, driving on the wrong side of the road and possession of a controlled substance,
Isaiah was taken off of life support and died in the hospital Monday, April 19.
Further investigation into the background of LIsabeth has revealed a criminal history of prior DUI arrests and drug violations. The neighborhood where the accident occurred is one of the most blighted crime and drug-ridden communities in the city of Atlanta. The street where the accident occurred is Joseph Boone Boulevard and includes the charter school Kipp Ways Academy. The boys were playing on the sidewalk when Lisabeth jumped the curb and sent the children flying in multiple directions. The residents of the community are angered as well as the family and many feel that Lisabeth was in the area possibly purchasing drugs. The area is known for drug sales, particularly heroin. Many drug buyers are White and take these drugs back to their affluent Atlanta communities.
The scene of the accident is now marked with a makeshift memorial for the boys injured in the accident.
