Roswell teen dies as car crashes in alleged race
His friend is charged with DUI, vehicular homicide
Will Anderson - Staff
Sunday, December 10, 2000

A Roswell teenager was killed early Saturday morning and his friend was charged with vehicular homicide in a two-car accident in Alpharetta that police say involved racing and drinking.

Eric Mills, 19, was pronounced dead at North Fulton Regional Hospital shortly after the 1:30 a.m. wreck on Mid-Broadwell Road near Bethany Road. Police said Mills was racing a friend, John Shumberger, 24, of Alpharetta when his Honda Prelude left the pavement and struck a tree head-on. Shumberger's Ford Escort also ran off the road, but he was not injured, Alpharetta police spokesman Lt. Ed Densmore said.

Shumberger was charged with driving under the influence, racing and first-degree vehicular homicide, Densmore said.

The accident occurred in an area where there are several horse farms. Both cars were heading west. Mills was apparently in the left lane going against traffic when they rounded a curve and lost control, Densmore said.

The accident was the second fatal wreck in metro Atlanta involving racing in the past three months. On Sept. 23, 16-year-old Jarrod Norman and passenger John Bickelhaup, also 16, were killed while street racing another car on Chastain Road in Kennesaw. Police said Norman lost control of his 1997 Chevy Camaro, veered off the road and struck a brick wall in front of the Community Bible Church.