An early-morning crash on Highway 78 near Hugh Howell Road in DeKalb County left one person dead and shut down the eastbound side of the corridor for hours on Monday.
DeKalb County officers were called to the scene at about 5:42 a.m., where they found two vehicles involved in the wreck. One person was pronounced dead at the scene. All eastbound lanes were closed for roughly three hours while emergency crews cleared debris and investigators examined the crash site.
According to FOX 5 Atlanta, police have not yet said whether the person who died was a driver or a passenger. Investigators also have not announced whether any charges are expected, as the cause of the collision remains under review.
This Stretch Of US 78 Has Seen Other Serious Crashes
Highway 78, known in parts as the Stone Mountain Freeway, is a heavily traveled east west route through DeKalb County and into surrounding suburbs. It has been the scene of multiple serious wrecks in recent months.
A Jan. 5 multi-vehicle crash on the same highway left a woman dead and had investigators looking into whether a wrong way driver was involved, underscoring ongoing safety concerns along the corridor. For an overview of the roadway’s design and regional role, see the U.S. Route 78 overview.
How To Help Investigators
DeKalb County police say the latest crash remains under investigation, and officials have not yet released the name of the person who was killed. Anyone who saw the collision or captured it on dashcam is urged to contact DeKalb County police, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. Authorities say they will release more information as it becomes available.
