Jogger hit by DeKalb police officer’s car dies

Officer in critical condition after Tuesday crash.

An avid runner who was hit by a DeKalb County police officer’s car while she was jogging died Tuesday night, the DeKalb medical examiner has confirmed.

Janet Pickney, 66, was critically injured in the crash just before 7:30 a.m. Tuesday. She died just before 11:30 p.m. after being taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, Medical Examiner Investigator Mark Anglin told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Pickney was a retired teacher who was active in her church and described by friends as a foster mom, Channel 2 Action News reported.

She was also an active member of the Atlanta Track Club, Executive Director Rich Kenah said.

She participated in many of the club’s Grand Prix events and was competitive in her age group, averaging a 10-minute, 51-second mile in the July 4 AJC Peachtree Road Race. She averaged a 10-minute mile in the Decatur DeKalb 4-miler on July 15.

“Janet and her family are in the thoughts and prayers of many of us in the running community,” Kenah said.

Eric McCaskill of Erik’s Fit Lab gym said Pickney will be dearly missed in the neighborhood. He recalled how she helped map out races. He plans to dedicate the Oct. 14 Heroes vs. Villains 5K road race in Tucker to Pickney’s memory.

Another friend, Dodie Doss, called Pickney a wonderful person.

“She was very caring; (she had a) very good heart,” Doss said. “Very dedicated to anything she did.”

Officer Ian MacGowan was swerving to avoid a vehicle turning in front of him at the time of the crash at the intersection of Brown and Chamblee Tucker roads, DeKalb police Lt. Lonzy Robertson said.

MacGowan then crashed into a house at the intersection. There was no update on his condition, which was listed as critical but stable Tuesday.

The woman driving the other car, Brenda Yarini, was not cited by police. Her husband, Joe Yarini, told Channel 2 he and his wife were praying for Pickney and MacGowan.

Police are investigating how fast both cars were going at the time of the crash.

‘She was very caring; (she had a) very good heart. Very dedicated to anything she did.’

Dodie Doss

Friend of Janet Pickney