Gainesville Hit-and-Run Leaves One Dead, Another Hospitalized
A tragic incident unfolded in Gainesville, Georgia, on Monday, April 21, 2025, when a hit-and-run driver struck two pedestrians, resulting in one fatality and another person hospitalized.​
The collision occurred around 11:00 a.m. on Academy Street in downtown Gainesville. According to authorities, 77-year-old Linda Tench was pushing 61-year-old Phillip Adams across the street in a wheelchair when they were struck by a vehicle. The driver failed to yield to the pedestrians in the crosswalk and fled the scene without stopping. ​
Both victims were transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center. Adams succumbed to his injuries at the hospital, while Tench remains hospitalized in stable condition.
Following an investigation, Gainesville police identified the driver as 29-year-old Janet Villanueva of Gainesville. She has been arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including first-degree vehicular homicide, serious injury by motor vehicle, felony hit-and-run, failure to yield right of way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, and failure to exercise due regard.
The Gainesville community is mourning the loss of Phillip Adams and hoping for the recovery of Linda Tench. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Our thoughts are with the victims and their families during this difficult time.