Elementary school principal charged with DUI, open container violation after crash, police say
By Alvieann Chandler
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COBB COUNTY, Georgia (WXIA) — A metro Atlanta elementary school principal was charged with a DUI after a crash last Thursday.
Cobb County officers were called to the collision that happened at the intersection of Ebenezer Road and Sandy Plains Road on Thursday, Jan. 8, at around 4:44 p.m.
Police said an investigation determined the driver who caused the crash was under the influence of alcohol. Officers also found a half-empty bottle of Smirnoff Vodka in her vehicle behind the driver’s seat, according to a police report.
The driver was identified as Jill Spiva. According to a report, Spiva was also charged with failure to maintain lane and an open container violation. During the investigation, the police report states she refused to participate in a sobriety field test and to have blood drawn.
She was then taken to the hospital for medical evaluation, where police petitioned for a search warrant for her blood, which the hospital granted, according to the report.
She was then booked into the Cobb County Detention Center, but has since been released.
Spiva is the principal at Addison Elementary School in Cobb County. The location of the intersection where she crashed and was arrested is just down the street from the school. The incident happened just after school ended that day.
11Alive reached out to the school district, and they provided this statement:
“The district recently became aware of an incident which we have verified happened off-campus and after school hours. Because the investigation is ongoing, we cannot comment further. We are happy to hear everyone involved is safe.”
A spokesperson for the school district told 11Alive on Wednesday, Jan. 14, that Spiva has been placed on administrative leave pending an HR investigation.
Spiva has worked for the district since the start of her teaching career in 2001.
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