Marine Lance Cpl. Gregory Suedmeyer, 21, was killed and his wife Katelyn, 19, was critically injured when their car collided with a vehicle driven by 71-year-old Bruce Quayle, who was driving the wrong way on I-20.
The crash also injured the Marine's wife, Katelyn Suedmeyer, 19, who remains in critical condition at Atlanta Medical Center.
Marine Lance Cpl. Gregory Suedmeyer, 21, lived with his wife at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune near Jacksonville, N.C. The Suedmeyers were reportedly traveling to visit family in Alabama when the crash occurred.
Cobb Police secured warrants for Bruce Quayle, 71, of Villa Rica, on Wednesday. He also faces charges of serious injury by vehicle, reckless driving and driving on the wrong side of the road. Quayle, who remains in stable condition, will be served with the warrants upon his release from Grady Memorial Hospital.
The Suedmeyers' dog also died in the crash, and Cobb Police said Quayle will likely face animal cruelty charges. Quayle could also face additional charges in Douglas County, as that is where he was first reported driving east in the westbound lanes of I-20.
Several callers told 911 operators shortly before 5 p.m. Saturday that there was a wrong-way driver on the Interstate where it crosses Lee Road in Douglas County. That point is more than five miles from the Six Flags Parkway underpass, which is where Quayle's 2008 gray Chevy Silverado collided head-on with the 2000 green Mitsubishi Mirage driven by Gregory Suedmeyer at 4:51 p.m.
Cobb Police could not confirm what speed Quayle was traveling. However, WHNT-TV in Huntsville, Ala. - Gregory Suedmeyer's hometown - reported a transcript of one of the 911 calls, where a person says: "He's running about 60 miles per hour or 70 miles per hour down the shoulder the wrong way."
Quayle was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, but Cobb Police do not have his blood-alcohol content results yet.
Gregory Suedmeyer was an assaultman assigned to 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, according to Marine public affairs. He joined the Corps in November 2007 and was promoted to the rank of lance corporal on Jan. 1, 2009. He served in Iraq from October 2008 to May 2009. He received the Iraq Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
A Facebook group has been established in his honor, called RIP Lance Corporal Gregory M. Suedmeyer. On the Web page, close friend Tyler Campbell wrote, "My love and my sympathies go out to your family, I know they will miss you terribly. Speaking as a former TOW Platoon Marine who deployed with you, every single one of us will miss you brother. Semper Fi and stand tall when you get to the Gates to guard them."
A number of people also had kind words of encouragement for the Marine's wife.
Amelia Michele Sanders Stoneking wrote, "Katelyn, we love you. Stay strong. (You're) in our prayers."
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