Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Stoned driver smashes into CNN Centre lobby

Gerlmy Javon Todd, 22, told police he smoked marijuana before his Mercedes-Benz ploughed into the glass entrance

Tom Payne
Saturday 14 June 2014 14:49 BST
Comments
CNN tweeted this picture yesterday morning
CNN tweeted this picture yesterday morning (Twitter)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The driver of a Mercedes-Benz convertible which smashed into the lobby of CNN’s Atlanta headquarters had smoked marijuana before the crash, police have said.

Gerlmy Javon Todd, 22, told police he fell asleep at the wheel before the car veered into the lobby of the CNN Centre early Friday morning.

But this morning police authorities from Atlanta, Georgia, told MailOnline that Todd was in possession of marijuana and had admitted he smoked the drug before the crash.

Officer John Chafee added that Todd “was taken into custody and is being charged with DUI Less Safe, Reckless Driving and Possession of Marijuana”.

He is reported to have had multiple drug offences in Florida, according to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution newspaper.

Todd was accompanies by an unidentified female passenger who told a reporter to “get out of my face” when approached by a camera crew as she retrieved belongings from the car.

The crash happened at 4.15am on Friday morning. CNN ended up reporting on itself and shared a photo of the crash on Twitter, saying: '"Breaking" news at CNN Center - a driver crashed into our lobby! Fortunately no injuries”.

The collision removed a section of glass around 10 feet high and about 15 feet long from the building’s façade.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in