A Madison man has been accused of driving drunk in a car wreck in Putnam County that recently claimed his wife’s life.
Gabriel David Simpson, 57, of Billups Avenue, Madison, is facing charges of DUI alcohol, and homicide by vehicle, first degree through violation of serious traffic offense, according to Putnam County jail reports.
Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills made arrangements for Simpson to turn himself in, and he did so on June 7, as arranged, when Magistrate Dorothy Adams was at the jail for bond hearings. Court records reveal Simpson was released on a $12,000 property bond. The sheriff noted that Simpson was still recovering from his injuries sustained from the accident.
The crash happened sometime during the wee hours of Sunday morning, May 21.
Putnam County Sheriff’s Deputy Patrick Isbell was out on patrol around 4:30 a.m. when he reportedly drove up on the scene on Harmony Road at Lower Harmony Road.
Julie Leigh Simpson, 54, had already died when Isbell discovered the 2021 Subaru Forester wreckage. Sills said both of the Simpsons were still inside the overturned vehicle, with Gabriel Simpson lying on the interior roof and Julie Simpson still seat-belted in the passenger seat.
The deputy did not attempt to take Gabriel Simpson out of the vehicle because he suspected fractures and didn’t want to cause more harm, so he waited for Putnam County Fire Department first responders to arrive, Sills said. Gabriel was taken by ambulance to Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital for treatment of serious injuries.
Gabriel had refused at the scene to undergo a blood alcohol test, so Putnam County Sheriff’s Office later submitted a search warrant for his hospital records.
“The hospital’s records revealed his blood alcohol content was almost more than three times the legal limit,” Sills said. “And his level could’ve actually been higher at the time of the wreck because we suspect the accident occurred one to two hours before the deputy came upon it.”
Gabriel was said to be a bartender at the National Tavern in Reynolds, but his arrest report reveals he is employed by The Table at Lake Oconee.
Obviously, Gabriel, along with his wife, is highly regarded in the community in which he works. On the day of the accident, a GoFundMe account was established in his name, which to date has generated more than $87,400.
The organizer of the account posted that it was set up “to support Gabe Simpson and his family with medical and other costs as he recovers from his horrific accident.”
“For all those who love Gabe and have gotten to know him over the years, please help in whatever way you can,” Geoffrey Altizer-Bieger wrote. “Please keep Gabe and his family in your hearts during his long recovery and with the loss of his wife, Julie.”
The fundraiser can be found online at GoFundMe.com/f/supporting-gabe-simpson.