Judge convicts Anthony Thornton of failing to yield in multi-vehicle crash; $100 fine, 30 days to pay

Judge Tammy Long Haywood found Anthony Thornton guilty of failing to yield the right of way after a bench trial in Clayton County State Court on Dec. 16, 2024. The court determined Thornton’s left turn into moving traffic caused a chain reaction collision that involved five vehicles.

The state presented testimony that Thornton turned from an access road onto Flint River Road and struck a vehicle driven by Mayde (Medi) Garcia Amador, causing her car to lose control and strike three additional vehicles. Officer Desmond Ayers of the Clayton County Police Department testified he responded to the scene and concluded Thornton “failed to yield and made sure traffic was cleared before entering,” which the officer described as making Thornton the at-fault driver.

Thornton testified and told the court he believed traffic was stopped and that another driver had backed up to let him make the turn; he also said he had seen the other driver before impact. Garcia Amador testified she was traveling with the right of way when Thornton turned into her lane and struck her passenger side.

After hearing testimony and argument, Judge Haywood said the legal standard requires drivers entering a lane of moving traffic to “be able to ascertain whether the traffic is clear,” and that having another motorist wave a driver through does not transfer the right of way. The judge concluded the state had met its burden and found Thornton guilty.

The state recommended a $300 fine; the court imposed a $100 fine. With required state surcharges the total due is $151.50. Thornton told the court he could pay and the judge gave him 30 days to make the payment. Court staff will send Thornton paperwork and payment instructions to the email address he provided during the hearing.