WINDER, Ga. — Editor's note: The video above is from previous coverage of this story in November.
Nearly one year after a 23-year-old University of Georgia PhD student was tragically killed in a horrific head-on car crash, the Barrow County Sheriff's Office is increasing the reward to find the man accused of hitting her.
Beth Buchanan was struck head-on while driving her mom to the Atlanta airport on Feb. 13, 2023, as she and her mother were in the car on University Parkway in Winder. She was in the second year of her PhD program at UGA.
Deputies are now offering $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of 26-year-old Cesar Raudales Macias, who is wanted for first-degree vehicular homicide. He is described as being 5-foot-8, 165 pounds and having black hair and green eyes.
11Alive's Cody Alcorn spoke with Beth's mother, Julie Olson-Buchanan, back in November. She recalled the moments before the crash that took her own daughter.
"He didn't have two headlights," she said. "He had half of one. We weren't sure. We both, at the same moment, saw something unusual, and then it hit. Beth was killed," Julie said, adding, "I was in ICU for a week. In the hospital for a couple more weeks. So I found out when I regained consciousness."
At the time, she said what made it even worse was knowing the man accused of causing the crash that killed her daughter had not been arrested. Raudales Macias was also severely hurt in the crash. Julie said they were informed by authorities he had broken both of his legs.
She's furious he somehow was able to get away before the Barrow County Sheriff's Office was able to arrest him.
"I couldn't imagine that we would be in the situation where we're trying to figure out where he is and how he was able to leave his house, given he was apparently not mobile at the time. It suggests he had some help," Julie said, adding, "It breaks my heart that he is not facing what he did."
Raudales Macias has several warrants out for his arrest, including first-degree vehicular homicide, serious injury by vehicle, DUI-alcohol, driving on the wrong side of the roadway and a seatbelt violation.
Anyone with information on the case can submit a tip anonymously to the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at 404-577-TIPS (8477), online www.StopCrimeAtl.org or by texting CSA and the tip to CRIMES (274637). Persons do not have to give their name or any identifying information to be eligible for the reward of up to $10,000.