UNION CITY | 20-year-old man charged in fatal hit-and-run accident | News

UNION CITY, Ga. (WXIA) - Police in Union City said a 20-year-old man turned himself into authorities Monday in connection with the hit-and-run death of a teacher early Sunday morning.

Jamonta Leon Smith surrendered to Union City Police at 3:20 Monday afternoon. Smith told police he was returning home early Sunday when he came over a hill and struck something in the middle of the roadway.

Smith said he stopped and opened his car door to see what he hit. He said that after he did not see anything, he kept going.

After learning of the hit-and-run accident through the news media, Smith contacted police and turned himself in.

Police said Latara Worthy, 29, a sixth grade teacher at East Point's Woodland Middle School, had stepped out of someone's car on South Fulton Parkway near Mason Road at about 2:45 a.m. Sunday, when she was struck and killed.

Police said the hit-and-run driver left the scene.

Worthy was married with a 1-year-old daughter, and was preparing to celebrate her 30th birthday on Tuesday. She was only two weeks from earning a master's degree in education.

Smith has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident, vehicular homicide and failure to render aid.