SUV strikes trees, killing passenger

An Augusta man was killed when the sport utility vehicle he was riding in slammed into pine trees early Friday morning, Richmond County Chief Deputy Coroner Mark Bowen said.

Mr. Bowen said he pronounced 37-year-old Timothy Krauss, who was not wearing a seat belt, dead at the scene at 12:45 a.m. Ruben Murillo, the driver of the Range Rover Discovery, survived the accident that occurred in the 3300 block of Wheeler Road. He was taken to Medical College of Georgia Hospital, where he remained in serious condition Friday afternoon.

"It appears he was driving at a high rate of speed," Mr. Bowen said. "We believe alcohol played a part in it."

Richmond County sheriff's Maj. Richard Weaver said Mr. Murillo, 32, was charged with driving too fast for conditions, failure to maintain his lane, driving under the influence and first degree vehicular homicide.

"He was just east of Regent Road, and there's a curve," Maj. Weaver said. "As he started to maneuver to go into that curve, he lost control, struck a mailbox and then crossed over the westbound lanes and struck a tree."

After hitting the tree, the SUV continued across a private drive, struck another tree and overturned, he said.

The chief deputy coroner said the two were leaving The Limelite Cafe and heading to the Vue nightclub when the accident occurred.

The body was sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime lab in Atlanta for an autopsy.

Reach Greg Gelpi at (706) 828-3851 or greg.gelpi@augustachronicle.com.