Charges Filed in Carriage Wreck

Remember that report from Tuesday? Good. I have news on that front.

The driver whose Lexus ran into a horse and carriage carrying four people has been charged with following too closely, driving on a suspended license and violating the open container law, Atlanta police said Sunday.

A female passenger in the carriage remains in critical condition after the wreck on Peachtree Street on Friday night.

Atlanta police arrested Odom Gerald, 28, who was driving the black Lexus that hit the slow-moving carriage.

"The carriage disintegrated, seriously injuring the occupants," said Sgt. Curtis Davenport, spokesman for Atlanta police.

Gerald was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital before being transferred to the Atlanta City Jail. He has since been released on bond.

Police identified three of the four carriage occupants as Donald Borchardt, Carol Knieriem and Andrea Rice. Knieriem and Rice are from Nebraska, police said.

Knieriem and Rice were in stable condition at Grady Memorial Hospital. Borchardt was treated and released. Police have not identified the woman who was critically injured.

The horse was captured as it ran from the scene, police said. Witnesses at the scene told the AJC that the animal appeared to be unharmed.

Atlanta police continue to investigate the crash, which happened near Andrew Young International Boulevard. The vehicle that struck the carriage may have been racing another vehicle, according to witnesses at the scene.

The incident caused traffic delays in the area. Peachtree Street, from Ellis to Harris streets, was temporarily blocked. The sidewalks in the area were also blocked to pedestrians.