Danah Bufford

Name:
Bufford, Danah Lori

Date of Booking:
04/16/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
HIT AND RUN; DUTY OF DRIVER TO STOP AT OR RETURN TO SCENE OF ACCIDENT

Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]

On April 16, 2026, at 8:12 pm I, Deputy Christopher Haag, was dispatched to a high school for a private property hit-and-run collision. The complainant was notified by a witness that a collision had occurred on her vehicle while she was in another business before heading to the school.

The complainant stated that a witness saw her vehicle get struck by another vehicle, and it was leaving the property during the conversation. The witness provided the vehicle leaving the scene tag information and left her name and phone number to be contacted. The complainant was not aware of the collision and was only informed by the witness. The complainant’s vehicle had minor damage to the rear right corner of the bumper. There was white paint transfer and scuff marks from the collision.

I called the whiteness by phone and received her statement. She stated that her and another friend were sitting outside when a white Volvo attempted to pull into a parking space. The vehicle attempted to pull straight into the parking space and mis-judged the clearance and collided with the complainant’s vehicle. The witness stated that it was a female in the driver seat and appeared panicked. The driver never exited her vehicle or attempted to contact law enforcement. The vehicle rapidly left the parking lot turning left onto Hog Mountain Road towards Watkinsville. The witness pointed out the vehicle leaving to the complainant as she returned to her vehicle.

I received a GCIC return on the white Volvo to a local address. I went and visited the address and spoke to the driver’s ex-husband. He confirmed that she drives a white Volvo but no longer lives at the address. He stated that she moved back in with her father and provided the address.

I arrived at the new address and noticed a white Volvo in the carport. I spoke with a male that was the driver’s sibling and confirmed that she had arrived home shortly and had been driving her car. The registered owner of the vehicle is confirmed as the driver by the family and herself later on as Danah Bufford of Watkinsville. I noticed on the front end of the white Volvo minor damage to the front left bumper area.

The damage was consistent with a collision of the complainant’s vehicle. Her father went into the house and asked Danah to come outside to speak with me. I asked Danah if she had been driving earlier, and she confirmed that she was driving her white Volvo earlier. She confirmed that she had driven to the business that the collision occurred.

I inquired if she had an accident while in the parking lot. She had an odor of acholic beverage on her breath and was leaning against the house. She stated that she could not remember. I informed her that she was being arrested for Hit and Run for the collision. I had her place her hands behind her back and handcuffed her, double locked and checking for fit.

I transported her to the Oconee County Jail and turned her over to the jail staff with all personal belongings. I checked the rear seat at the jail for any left behind contraband and nothing was found. My body camera recorded the arrest and transport. Danah Bufford was charged with misdemeanor Hit and Run (OCGA 40-6-270).

[End of Narrative]