A pedestrian was killed in a hit-and-run Friday night near the intersection of Sidney Marcus Boulevard NE and the Buford Highway Connector in Atlanta, police said. Authorities have not released the victim’s identity or other details about the person who was struck.
According to Atlanta News First, Atlanta police said the crash occurred in the area of Sidney Marcus Boulevard NE and the Buford Highway Connector. The outlet reports that the investigation is ongoing and that officials have not yet provided additional information about what led up to the collision.
Dangerous Stretch For Pedestrians
The crash happened at the southern end of the long Buford Highway corridor, a stretch regional planners have repeatedly flagged for inconsistent sidewalks, poor lighting and fast traffic that leaves people on foot exposed. The Buford Highway Multimodal Corridor Study recommends filling in sidewalk gaps, improving lighting and adding more pedestrian infrastructure to cut down on conflicts between drivers and people walking. Those longstanding design problems help explain why crashes along parts of the corridor often lead to serious injuries.
What The Law Says
Georgia law is clear about what drivers must do after a serious crash. Anyone involved in a collision that causes a death is required to stop, offer help when possible and exchange information. Knowingly leaving the scene of a fatal crash can be charged as a felony. O.C.G.A. § 40-6-270 spells out the duty to stop and notes that failing to comply “if such accident is the proximate cause of death” can result in prison time. The full statute text is available at O.C.G.A. § 40-6-270.
Atlanta police are still working to piece together the circumstances of Friday night’s hit-and-run and have not released more information about the victim or a possible suspect, according to Atlanta News First. As of late Friday, the investigation remained active.
