A 30-year-old Atlanta woman is sitting in jail without bond after police say she caused a deadly hit-and-run crash that killed a visiting husband and father—and then kept driving like nothing happened.
Authorities say Portia Taylor was under the influence of drugs and alcohol when she left her shift at Candyland, a downtown Atlanta strip club, and sped through Peachtree and Baker streets in the early hours of the morning. That’s when she allegedly struck 71-year-old Michael “TC” Crabtree, who was in town for business, as he tried to cross the street.
Instead of stopping, Taylor allegedly hit the gas, jumped on I-75, and drove nearly 20 miles into Cobb County, where police say she caused a second crash near the Canton Road connector. Even then, she didn’t stop.
Eventually, she exited near the Town Center Mall, where officers pulled her over and arrested her. According to investigators, she had an open tequila bottle, marijuana, and ecstasy in the car.
After that arrest, Taylor was somehow released and went back to work at the same strip club. But the investigation caught up with her. Atlanta police later confirmed she was behind the wheel of the car that killed Crabtree. They tracked her down and arrested her at the club.
Now, she’s facing serious charges, including vehicular homicide, DUI, and fleeing the scene of a deadly crash. Crabtree’s family described him as a loving husband, father, and pillar in his Alabama church community. His death has left a lasting void, while his accused killer prepares for her sixth night in jail—and possibly much longer.
