Surge in highway deaths prompts urgent warning from GDOT
Why staying inside your vehicle could save your life
GDOT spokesperson Natalie Dell warns drivers to stay inside their vehicles following an interstate breakdown. Stepping onto high-speed highways drastically increases the risk of serious injury or death as pedestrian crashes rise across Atlanta.
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. - A 33-year-old man was struck and killed Thursday morning after walking onto I-75/85 near Midtown Atlanta, prompting state transportation officials to issue an urgent safety warning for drivers facing roadside emergencies.
What we know:
Atlanta police responded around 4:58 a.m. Thursday to the northbound lanes of the Downtown Connector near the Williams Street NW bridge.
Responding officers found an unresponsive 33-year-old man lying in the far-right lane, where medical personnel pronounced him dead.
Investigators said a vehicle hit the man in the right lane before an unknown number of additional cars hit him.
The first driver stayed at the scene, and the Accident Investigations Unit is determining the circumstances.
Traffic shut down for hours after another pedestrian died Thursday morning on I-75 near Moores Mill Road.
Shorly before 9 a.m., SKYFOX Traffic reported that all lanes had reopened, but traffic remained heavy in the area.
The backstory:
At least six people have been killed or seriously injured on metro Atlanta highways this month alone. Last weekend, a woman stepped out of her disabled car on the interstate to check for damage and was struck and killed. Previous fatal crashes occurred Aug. 17 on I-85 near Shallowford Road and Aug. 12 on I-75 near Moores Mill Road.
What we don't know:
Authorities have not released the name of the 33-year-old man killed near Williams St. NW pending family notification. Investigators have not identified the additional vehicles that struck the man or confirmed why he walked into traffic. Police have not announced any formal charges regarding the crash.
Pedestrian crash closes I-75/85NB Thursday morning
A crash involving a pedestrian has shut down all northbound lanes of the Downtown Connector near North Avenue early Thursday morning, creating major delays for drivers heading into Atlanta. Breaking news.
What you can do:
Georgia Department of Transportation officials state the safest place during an emergency is buckled inside a vehicle while waiting for help. Leaving a car on high-speed highways drastically increases the risk of serious injury or death, as even a minor fender bender can push a vehicle into a person standing nearby. Drivers facing no other option should move as far away from moving lanes as possible. Commuters needing assistance can call 511 or 911 to request free GDOT Hero units trained for high-traffic scenes.