Parents and Teen Indicted in Fatal Crash of Lakeside High Student in DeKalb County

DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced the indictment of three individuals connected to the February 2024 crash that killed Lakeside High School senior Sophia Lekiachvili, 18.

A DeKalb County Grand Jury indicted Hannah Hackemeyer, 18, the driver of the vehicle, on charges including three counts of Homicide by Vehicle in the First Degree, three counts of Serious Injury by Vehicle, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol Under the Age of 21, Reckless Driving, and Possession of Open Container of Alcoholic Beverage in the Passenger Area. Hackemeyer’s arraignment will be scheduled before a Superior Court Judge.

Sophia’s friend Ananya Rao, 18, survived the crash. However, Ananya’s parents, Sumanth Rao, 50, and Anindita Rao, 49, were also indicted on charges of Involuntary Manslaughter, Reckless Conduct, and Maintaining a Disorderly House. Warrants have been issued for their arrests, and their arraignments will be scheduled. They are accused of allowing the three teenagers to drink in their home prior to the crash.

The crash occurred shortly after midnight on February 24, 2024. DeKalb County Police responded to reports of a single-vehicle crash on Oak Grove Road near Kirkland Drive. Officers found a blue Mazda CX-5 flipped upside down. Hackemeyer and Ananya managed to escape the vehicle, but Sophia was trapped in the front passenger seat. Rescuers extricated her and transported her to a hospital, where she later died from her injuries.

Crash data revealed Hackemeyer was driving at 98 mph, over 60 mph above the speed limit, just one second before impact. Investigators determined she never applied the brakes. Blood tests confirmed her Blood Alcohol Concentration was 0.046, more than twice the legal limit for an underage driver.

The investigation revealed that the teens had been drinking wine earlier that evening at Ananya’s home, with the alcohol supplied in full view of her parents. Sumanth and Anindita Rao allegedly allowed the teenagers to drink on multiple prior occasions and permitted them to leave with an open bottle of wine the night of the crash.

“This tragedy was a foreseeable consequence of allowing underage drinking in their home and permitting someone who had consumed alcohol to drive,” said DA Boston. “While no prosecution can undo the loss of Sophia, we hope justice in her case prevents future tragedies.”