On Friday, July 11, a Baldwin man was involved in a fatal collision in North Hall County and is facing several counts, including first-degree vehicular homicide.
James David Molton, age 31, was taken into custody by investigators upon his discharge from the hospital, according to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office. The allegations are related to a single-vehicle collision that occurred on Oliver Mill Road close to Forrester Road at approximately 3:20 p.m.
When Molton lost control and struck a tree, he was traveling west in a 1996 Chrysler Concorde. He had a tiny amount of THC wax on him and was under the influence of methamphetamine at the time, according to the sheriff’s office.
Caitlyn Marie Butler, 27, of Gainesville, died at the scene of the collision. Melisa Sue Mann, a 23-year-old Cleveland resident, was another backseat passenger who suffered severe injuries. Minor injuries were sustained by Molton and his front-seat companion, Joseph Wolfgang Shumate, 29, of Gainesville.
Molton faces two further charges in addition to vehicular homicide: violating the Georgia Controlled Substances Act and inflicting serious injury by vehicle. Five traffic infractions, including DUI (drugs), reckless driving, failing to maintain lane, driving on the wrong side of the road, and tire violations, were also brought against him by deputies.
Molton is being held without bond after being processed into the Hall County Jail.
