5 pedestrians hit on interstates in metro Atlanta within a week

About five hours after a man was hit and killed trying to cross I-20 west of downtown, another pedestrian was killed on the same interstate. It was the fifth time in a week a pedestrian was struck on a freeway in metro Atlanta; four of them have died.

In the latest accident, a man died trying to run across both sides of I-20 at Joseph E Lowery Boulevard around midnight Wednesday, according to Channel 2 Action News.

Few details have been released about that incident.

But the driver who hit the man stopped, police told Channel 2.

Earlier Wednesday, the interstate was shut down for at least two hours when a man was hit around 6:30 p.m. on I-20 at I-285 on the west side of town.

“The male began to walk across the interstate for some unknown

reason,” Atlanta police Sgt. John Chafee told Channel 2. “He was struck by a vehicle who was unable to stop.”

He was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he later died.

Investigators told Channel 2 the driver pulled over and was cooperating with investigators.

“At this point we do not anticipate charges,” Cha- fee said.

Three other pedestrians in the past week have been struck on a metro Atlanta interstate.

Three southbound drivers hit and critically injured awoman trying to cross the Downtown Connector just before 8 p.m. Tuesday, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has reported.

Only one driver stayed on the scene near the University Avenue exit south of downtown. That driver will not be charged, police said.

In another crash on Friday, 19-year-old Kaden Campbell was struck and killed by an SUV while attempting to cross the same interstate.

And in yet another accident, James Ellis tried to cross I-20 near Panola Road and was hit by a car on Nov. 8, DeKalb police told Channel 2.

The recent surge prompted the Georgia Department of Transportation to release this media statement:

“First and foremost, using the interstate as a pedes- trian is a violation of state law. However, sometimes motorists involved in accidents become pedestrians when they exit the safety of their vehicles. If you are involved in an accident on the interstate the safest thing to do is to remain in your vehicle, call 911 and 511, and await help from law enforcement, emergency personnel or GDOT HEROs.”