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Local man sentenced in vehicular homicide case
6 Hartzler mug
Hartzler

A Dawsonville man convicted of vehicular homicide in February received a 10-year sentence for the 2010 incident that claimed the life of a 24-year-old Gainesville woman.

According to authorities, Colon Louis Hartzler, 45, was driving under the influence of alcohol on June 25, 2010, when passenger Jenna Fitzgerald fell from his Jeep and was struck by a minivan on Ga. 400.

The driver of the minivan was not charged.

As part of his sentencing by Superior Court Judge Bonnie Oliver, Hartzler will spend four years in prison with the remainder to be served on probation.

He must also complete 240 hours of community service upon release, as well as pay $4,671 in fines and fees.

"Driving drunk under any circumstances is inexcusable and often leads to death and heartbreak as we have seen in this case," said Lee Darragh, district attorney for the Northeastern Judicial Circuit. "Hopefully, Hartzler will have learned from this experience for the future safety of us all."