A pedestrian was seriously injured early Thursday after being struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Glenwood and Candler roads in DeKalb County, police said. The cause of the crash remains unclear, and no arrests have been announced.
According to Atlanta News First, the collision happened in the early morning hours at the busy junction, though details on exactly how the crash unfolded have not been released. It's the latest in a string of serious and fatal pedestrian crashes to hit this particular stretch of DeKalb County road in recent years.
The intersection has a documented history of severe pedestrian collisions. In a report published May 7, 2024, 11Alive reported a fatal pedestrian crash at Glenwood Road and Candler Road near the Scott Candler Library after a car crashed onto the sidewalk and hit a power pole. Just blocks away on the 1800 block of Candler Road, 75-year-old Larry Scott was struck and killed in a hit-and-run crash in May, according to FOX 5 Atlanta, with police seeking public help after the driver fled the scene.
A Corridor Already Under Scrutiny
The Glenwood Road corridor has drawn police attention for reasons beyond crashes. DeKalb County Police issued a public safety warning in April regarding an unpermitted “Glenwood Day” street gathering mapped along Glenwood Road from Covington Highway to Candler Road, citing severe traffic congestion and reckless driving concerns, Hoodline reported at the time. Officers were expected to be out for the upcoming Saturday to monitor activity and enforce laws.
Development is also reshaping the area. The Decide DeKalb Development Authority broke ground this year on Candler Crossing, a 7.26-acre commercial redevelopment anchored by a Publix supermarket at the corner of Glenwood and Candler roads, according to the Decide DeKalb Development Authority. The project is intended to replace older commercial space and boost neighborhood walkability at an intersection near public facilities and commercial strip centers.
What the Data Shows About DeKalb's Roads
The crash fits into a broader pattern across the county. A traffic study published in March 2025 by advocacy group Propel ATL found that DeKalb County saw a 25% increase in total traffic fatalities and a 40% surge in pedestrian deaths between 2022 and 2023, with pedestrians representing one-third of all traffic deaths across Fulton, DeKalb and Clayton counties in 2023. The same study, detailed by Fox 5 Atlanta, found that nearly 88% of pedestrian crashes in core metro Atlanta counties occurred within a quarter-mile of a MARTA bus stop, with almost half happening within 150 feet.
DeKalb County recorded 35,860 motor vehicle crashes, 574 suspected serious injuries and 112 traffic fatalities in 2024, ranking second highest among all Georgia counties, per data cited by Burrow & Associates. Statewide, the Atlanta region accounted for 58% of pedestrian crashes.
The Governor's Office of Highway Safety awarded DeKalb County Police a $120,779 grant in December to fund its Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic unit, 11Alive reported at the time. Whether the driver in Thursday's crash remained at the scene, whether speed or visibility played a role in the pre-dawn hours, and whether any charges will follow under the state's pedestrian right-of-way laws all remain open questions.
