ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — The family of a University of Georgia doctoral student who was killed by a drunk driver three years ago has been awarded $56.5 million in damages, court records show.

Beth Buchanan, a 23-year-old student in the industrial-organizational psychology program, was taking her mother to the airport on Feb. 13, 2023, when their car was struck by a driver going the wrong way in Barrow County.

The suspect, Cesar Raudales Macias, went into hiding shortly after the crash and remains a fugitive, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

“This judgment formally recognizes the immense value of Beth’s life and how truly extraordinary she was,” Rob Snyder, counsel for the Buchanan family, said in a statement. “This is an important first step towards accountability.”

Buchanan’s parents, Tim Buchanan and Julie Olson-Buchanan, called the judgment a legal acknowledgment of the life that was stolen from their daughter.

“We are absolutely devastated by the tragic loss of Beth,” they said in a statement. “This award is largely symbolic and we do not want it to be mistaken for compensation. No amount of money could ever account for the loss of our daughter or fill the void she left behind.”

Read the full judgment:

During a damages hearing in February, the court noted that people traveled from all around the country to testify on Buchanan’s extraordinary life — including her parents, partner and fellow PhD candidate.

Originally from Fresno, California, Buchanan was a standout student who loved learning from an early age, according to the judgment. She even founded a community garden to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to food-insecure families.

“One theme, in particular, appeared again and again in the stories shared about Beth: she was a light,” the Wednesday judgment said. “Nearly every person who spoke about her described the way she brightened the lives around her. One person even described her as ‘golden.’”

Officials are offering a reward of up to $15,000 for information about Macias’ whereabouts. You can contact Atlanta Crime Stoppers by calling 404-577-TIPS (8477), filing an online report or texting “CSA” and the tip to CRIME (274637).

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