Georgia woman, 38, is arrested for 'killing man, 25, and his dog in hit-and-run after fleeing crash

A Georgia woman has been arrested after allegedly killing a man and his dog in a hit-and-run as she was speeding away from another hit-and-run minutes earlier.  

Michael Farmer, 25, was taking his Catahoula named Bruce for an afternoon walk on Sunday in Sandy Springs near Atlanta when they were both fatally struck by a white sedan that fled the scene. 

The driver of the 2020 Chevy Malibu with Florida tags was identified as 38-year-old Dominque Houston, Sandy Springs police said.  

Police said Houston hit Farmer and his pet as she was driving at a high speed away from another accident she was involved in at a nearby interchange.   

Michael Farmer, 25, (left) and his dog were struck and killed in a hit-and run accident on Sunday in Sandy Springs, Georgia. The alleged driver, Dominique Houston, 38, (right) was arrested on multiple charges including reckless driving, two counts of hit-and-run and first-degree vehicular homicide

Police said Farmer was taking his Catahoula named Bruce (pictured) for an afternoon walk when they were both fatally struck by a white sedan that fled the scene

‘Sandy Springs Police Traffic Investigators learned that minutes prior to this deadly incident, the same hit-and-run vehicle had been involved in an additional hit-and-run crash with another vehicle while in the area of Roswell Road and I-285. The suspect was fleeing the first incident at a high-rate of speed when it struck the pedestrian and his dog; causing fatal injuries to both,’ the Sandy Springs Police Department said in a statement.  

Authorities apprehended Houston in nearby Newnan and seized her sedan.  

She was arrested on multiple charges including reckless driving, two counts of hit-and-run and first-degree vehicular homicide.  

Bert Brazel, whose house is across the street from where the fatal accident happened, told WSB-TV 2 that the area where Farmer was struck is ‘dangerous’.  

Neighbors told WSB-TV 2 that the average driver speeds down the street at around 60 MPH despite the 35 MPH speed limit. 

‘It’s very busy and people do get out and walk their dogs and it’s dangerous, always been dangerous,’ he said. 

Brazel added that Houston needs to face consequences for her reckless driving. 

‘They need to do their time and pay the due for what happened here, instead of hitting somebody and running that’s even worse,’ he told WSB-TV 2. 

Tributes for Farmer (pictured) from family and friends poured in on social media. A former rugby teammate remembered him  as a ‘positive’ person and a ‘loyal friend’

Farmer’s friend Evan Sbat told CBS 46 that he had to read the news about his death several times before accepting it was real. 

Sbat says that Houston’s actions during her hit-and-run spree were ‘inhumane.’ 

‘Had she have stopped at the first one when she hit the car he would still be alive today. Having no regard for that and then after hitting him still fleeing the scene beyond that, it’s inhumane and it’s selfish and I don’t understand how someone could just do that,’ he told CBS 46.

As news spread of Farmer’s death, tributes from family and friends poured in on social media. 

The 25-year-old’s mother, Cindy Farmer, posted a heartbreaking tribute to her son on Facebook. 

‘Forever in my heart. Gives me comfort Bruce is by your side in heaven. My heart is aching and I cannot function at the moment, but I know you’d want me to be strong for dad and Madison. So I will try. I love and miss you Michael,’ she posted. 

Jack O’Connor, remembered his former teammate on the Georgia College rugby team as a ‘positive’ person and a ‘loyal friend.’ 

‘Michael Farmer was one of the most optimistic, hardworking, and wholesome men I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. He was a dependable teammate and a fiercely loyal friend. Farmer was the embodiment of lighthearted playful fun. The world was a better place when he was in it. Thank you, Farmer, for all the laughs and triumphs,’ he posted on Facebook.