“Horrific” Hit & Run in Emory Village This Morning
Decatur Metro | July 13, 2010 | 1:22 pmUPDATE: An eyewitness recalls what they saw in a comment…
It was indeed a pedestrian accident, a horrific hit and run. I saw the whole thing from the #6 Marta bus.
Right around 8:30, a woman started briskly crossing North Decatur from Everybody’s Pizza side. Our bus in the right lane probably blocked her view, and the view of the silver Jeep speeding up to run the yellow light. They collided and her legs were mangled. The car continued on while tons of bystanders and bus riders were able to help the woman who was conscious. It happened so fast, so don’t quote me on any of these facts, but that’s how I remember it.
I never want to see anything like that again.
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It looks like we’ll have to go back to the old method of crowd-sourcing info on this one, since I don’t have an easy contact at DeKalb PD. Can anyone add to Kathy’s report of the accident in Emory Village this morning?
Big scene in Emory Village this morning, around 8:45–I wondered if you knew what was up, because I think you know everything that happens in the area. Multiple police cars, a fire truck, an ambulance that pulled out around the time I arrived, and traffic backed up all the way down North Decatur to Haygood and Briarcliff. There was one car parked in front of what I persist in calling Jagger’s, facing the wrong way. Honestly, my fear was that this was a pedestrian- or bicyclist-related accident, since there was only one car at the scene.
It was indeed a pedestrian accident, a horrific hit and run. I saw the whole thing from the #6 Marta bus.
Right around 8:30, a woman started briskly crossing North Decatur from Everybody’s Pizza side. Our bus in the right lane probably blocked her view, and the view of the silver Jeep speeding up to run the yellow light. They collided and her legs were mangled. The car continued on while tons of bystanders and bus riders were able to help the woman who was conscious. It happened so fast, so don’t quote me on any of these facts, but that’s how I remember it.
I never want to see anything like that again.
What an awful past 24 hours for Decatur…
That’s actually not in Decatur. It’s unincorporated DeKalb on the Atlanta side. Which means the DeKalb PD is in charge Poor lady and her hope of justice and financial retribution for her wrecked body. And of course, if she was crossing against the light, she’ll get the ticket.
Witnessing a pedestrian hit is something you never forget. I am an absolute jerk about pedestrians not following the rules just because I saw an elderly lady get her back broken illegally crossing at Jesse Hill Street; she got the ticket and thousands in bills. Out of dozens of people driving on the road the driver and I were the only ones who stopped and didn’t drive around the body. Every time I see joggers and walkers, especially walkers with kids, running or walking parallel to a sidewalk I want to scream at them that it isn’t worth the risk…. sorry, like I said, and like Nic above will soon learn, the vision of metal on flesh is something that effects you for a long time
Isn’t this the third incident in recent memory involving a pedestrian, a bus, and another vehicle zipping through the blind spot of people walking in front?
Agreed, awful 24 hours for Decatur.
Wow just wow. I hope they catch the perpetrator.
That is exactly the spot where a hit and run driver left me flailing on the ground with a broken clavicle. I still get nauseous when I go by there. The shock of a stranger deliberately leaving you to die in the road after hurting you never goes away. You never recover from that.
Horribly, horribly dangerous intersection for peds.
I couldn’t even leave a squirrel to die in the middle of the road, let alone a human being. This make me feel worse than I already do, what with that baby’s murder in Oakhurst just yesterday.
Ridge, I’m so sorry that happened to you. }}}Sending you a great big psychic hug through the universe– hope you feel it!{{{ [Note my clever use of brackets to illustrate the little psychic waves… š ]
Auto drivers have very little consideration for pedestrians, I can attest to that. I can never trust the “walk signals” at the intersections, because auto drivers routinely insist on turning even though they do not have the right of way while the walk signals are on. And some intersections have no working walk signals anyway! Do you know that dogs usually cross the streets away from intersections, because they only have 2 directions to look instead of 4+!! Pedestrians are an endangered species near any street or road. The callous attitude of a driver who would run over someone and leave them lying in the street is not uncommon. I hope they find out who did this and make them pay LOTS OF WAYS for their carelessness and violation of both legal and moral laws.
The inconsideration is across the board.
~ Drivers that do want to follow the traffic laws and let pedestrians have the right of way are often honked at for it.
~ Pedestrians jaywalk (in or outside the crosswalk) assuming that a car can stop within a heartbeat.
~ Motorcycles weave in an out of lanes to pass motor vehicle traffic.
~ Bicyclists pause even less than cars that don’t come to a full stop at a four or three-way stop. Or don’t stop at all and zip right on through.
~ Bicyclists that try to share the road with motorists don’t have sufficient space when approaching intersections.
and so on and so forth.
~ The car directly behind the postman isn’t going to go around the mail truck because he doesn’t have a full view of oncoming traffic is honked at for being careful.
…and about to get a bit more worse for pedestrians there with the new roundabout. Keep your fingers crossed it helps.
You’re kidding right?
Roundabouts decrease vehicle speed, Shorten pedestrian crossing distance, provide pedestrian refuges, eliminate intersection conflict areas and turn lanes.
We’d be very fortunate if most of our intersectione were roundabouts.
To quote Scott in a previous comment…
“Roundabouts are a great tool for processing a lot of cars at lower speeds on fewer lanes by keeping the flow of traffic moving more consistently.
Thatās good for moving traffic but itās bad for pedestrian crossings because there are no dedicated breaks. “
To clarify a smidge… My previous comment reflected the fact that, even with roundabouts, US traffic engineers tend to over-engineer for throughput, which creates the pedestrian challenge I was referring to. It shouldn’t be taken as a blanket criticism. In fact, there are a number of people in the US doing really strong roundabout design. The trick is to pinch traffic at certain points, further slowing it such that those in cars and those on foot are essentially forced to recognize and adjust to each other.
Assuming it’s designed to address cars, bikes and peds equally (as opposed to prioritizing throughput), everything Ridge says is correct on a high capacity road. It’s also true with even weak design on lower volume roads where gaps in traffic occur naturally.
The Roundabout would have probably prevented this accident. That intersection has always been dangerous for pedestrians and this accident should push Georgia DOT to get off their butts and approve construction! I can’t believe they’ve dragged their feet for so long. It’s a shame.
If only people knew what do in a roundabout. They confuse most Georgia drivers and people panic, not knowing when it’s their turn to go. I find them a bit dangerous from this standpoint. There simply aren’t enough of them around for the general public to know how to use them.
Still, they’re probably safer for a pedestrians, but I’ve had many close calls in the baby roundabout near Emory Village.
That’s a good point about confusing some drivers but I think people have adapted fairly well to the little one on lullwater.
If only someone could teach Georgia drivers that the flashing yellow traffic light is NOT a stop sign and different from a flashing red light!
I also think that’s a very bad intersection, but to say the roundabout probably would have prevented the accident is sheer speculation. Remember: this is a person so callous and indifferent to human life and the law that they fled the scene of a serious accident they caused. Even the best-designed interesections won’t stop blatant, intentional crime.
I, too, was on the 6 Bus this morning and saw the accident. Does anyone know if the girl that was hit is okay? I’ve tried finding the accident reported in the local news but I haven’t been able to find it.
I can’t WAIT for that roundabout to be built. With the Emory faculty, staff, students, and visitors combined with the Emory Village patrons in that area, and with the high number of motorists that pass through there for the first time or infrequently, it’s any wonder that this doesn’t happen more.
I’m ready for that roundabout to be built so it can start saving lives, just like the roundabout at N. Decatur and Lullwater stopped people from ending upside-down in the creek next to that intersection.
I’m all for roundabouts in several other complicated intersections across DeKalb, too.
To DM’s point about having a contact in DeKalb PD – if this even happened in City of Decatur we’d have official “keep on the look out for” information posted on this web site.
It shouldn’t take persistence on the part of the public and media to get this info. There should be a public affairs officer blasting this info to anyone who wants it.
I am not convinced that roundabouts are a panacea for pedestrian safety in a high volume intersection like Emory. Roundabouts are better for traffic due to the fact there is no real stopping—constant yields, and in theory yielding to pedestrians as well, but the driver will not be looking out for the peds crossing into the exits of the circle. There are fewer conflict points for peds, and they get a refuge island and can wait for gaps—but during rush hours there? There never will be a gap! A vehicle will think they should yield to the peds waiting, stop, and then get rear ended. Hopefully it will work as intended and the speeds coming in and out where the crossings are will be in the 15 MPH range, but it seems people are whipping through the Lullwater one, which is smaller. I support the project too (current intersection is a disaster), but am skeptical on roundabout benefits for high volume vehicular AND pedestrian traffic. Otherwise, a roundabout for every four way stop! Terrible about the accident.
Emory police are investigating:
*****Statement on Accident near Emory University *****
At approximately 8:30 am today, an Emory University student crossing North Decatur Road at Emory Village was struck by a vehicle at the corner of North Decatur and Oxford roads. Emory Police Department responded to the scene and is conducting a follow-up investigation. The vehicle involved in the accident, reportedly driven by a white female, initially stopped, but then left the scene. The student was taken to an area hospital, is listed in stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery. If you have any information about the accident, please call Emory Police at 404-727-8005.
###
um, type of vehicle, color, year, partial plate? No one got any of that? If not, probably a case of others thinking someone gave the info to the PD. If any of our eye whitnesses above saw anything about the car, looks like you should call it in.
Although I received the same statement this morning, 7/14 via the AIEV maillist, http://www.emoryvillage.org/ , there’s no press release on Emory’s website
http://www.emory.edu/home/news/releases/index.html
I have to drive around a roundabout on my way to work every weekday and believe me most people do NOT understand how to yield at them or choose not to.
I agree that many drivers do not wait for walkers like they should, but there are a lot of walkers who do not follow the walking signals either…like at the corner of Ponce and Commerce. At that turn light, people walk out in front of those trying to turn all of the time. Very frustrating when that light doesn’t last very long.
The simple rule Yield To Vehicles In Traffic Circle works for cars, peds, and bikes.
Pedestrians in Decatur have someone ton their side. I was in the crosswalk near St. Thomas More yesterday with my 2 children. Officer Bob was stopped at the light as well. One car decided not to stop for us and kept moving around us to head down Trinity. Officer bob rolled his eyes, turned on the blue lights and away he went.
Story from Fox 5:
http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/emory-cops-search-for-hit-and-run-driver-071410
NellieBelle you do know that pedestrians ALWAYS have the right of way right? And you also know that it is STATE LAW for ALL CARS to STOP at crosswalks for pedestrians no matter if the light is green or red? Cars never stop when the light is green. I walk this way every morning and its very dangerous. So guys slow down and let us cross the street! OK?
Trae said “you do know that pedestrians ALWAYS have the right of way right? ”
I disagree with this statement.
From GA State Code 40.6.5…
“Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the roadway unless he has already, and under safe conditions, entered the roadway.”
Trae, you are 1000% wrong. In Georgia, pedestrians only have the right of way 100% of the time in a marked cross walk without lights; never have right in a crosswalk with signals when walking against the signals (little flashing hand and little cartoon person) and NEVER have the right of way when walking on a road or crossing a road outside of a crosswalk. Georgia law is clear on this and pedestrians who get hit by cars who are not properly in crosswalks do get a ticket and can be sued by drivers.
It would behoove you to do a little research before you make such statements since safety is concerned.
1000%?
A thousand percent, Gibbs. Because people like this are the people who get hit by cars ….
I mean, wow, how wrong can you be–that’s, like, what?, ten-fold!
I am never wrong.
That’s all that matters
And now there is proof that you are indeed female.
Yesterday while driving thru town I had to stop for at least 10 people who were crossing Ponce randomly. We have these nice crosswalks all over town yet people are too lazy to walk 20 ft to the nearest crosswalk or intersection.
They are jaywalking and breaking the law.
Not to blame the victim, but it is important for everybody to understand and remember a few things: (1) pedestrians do NOT always have the right-of-way, (2) motorists often “jump” traffic signals or disregard them altogether, so constant vigilance is required, (3) pedestrians often ignore signals and can’t be bothered to use marked crosswalks, so constant vigilance is required. In downtown Decatur I frequently get ticked off–when I’m walking (using crosswalks and observing signals) it seems like at least one in four motorists is out to run me down. When I’m driving (respecting crosswalks and observing the speed limit and other regulations), it seems like at least one in four pedestrians has a death wish.
IMO it was unconscionable on the driver’s part to continue on her way after hitting the pedestrian. But it sounds like the pedestrian was crossing against the light AND coming out from in front of the MARTA bus where the driver couldn’t have seen her in time to stop. If I were a driver in that situation, I’d be shocked and sorry but also pretty angry (but I would not have left the scene).
Even if the victim were crossing against the light. The Jeep driver violated the law by passing the bus stopped at the intersection crosswalk.
“Whenever any vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass such stopped vehicle.”
ocga 40-6-91
Was the bus stopped specifically “to permit a pedestrian to stop” or were they just stopped?
Sorry, that should have said “to permit a pedestrian to cross.” (not ‘stop”)
The unknowable motives of the bus driver for remaining stopped at a green light are not considered because they are irrelevant. The fact that a vehicle was stopped at a crosswalk requires drivers to ensure no pedestrian is there before overtaking.
So what your saying is no vehicle may lawfully pass a bus if it stops at a bus stop near a crosswalk, just on the off chance that a person might cross the street against the light at that moment?
If you say so.
I don’t know about the lawfulness, but as I say in my post further below, I think it’s pretty foolish to pass a huge vehicle that one cannot see around. A pedestrian or another vehicle or something else unexpected could suddenly be in your way.
It reminds me of driving on narrow country roads in the hills. One may be driving lawfully, observing the speed limit, but if one crests a hill blindly, one might come suddenly upon a slow tractor or errant cow or new sinkhole and not be able to stop before a bunch of objects and people are smashed to smithereens. (A high school teacher of mine did this in his youth and impressed us all with his story of being in traction for a year. It didn’t matter to him that the tractor was in the wrong). Another analogy is when bridges such as that over I-95 in Connecticut collapse without warning—guess which cars end up going off the edge!–the ones that couldn’t identify what looked so odd and stop in time!
Does it count as “passing” a stopped bus if you are driving in the lane beside the bus (not behind it) and the traffic signal indicates you have the right-of-way? We’re talking about a MARTA bus, not a school bus.Isn’t that why school buses have special lights and special rules, to protect children from conditions that obtain with respect to passengers around a municipal bus (or any one other than a school bus)?
There is plenty of latitude to disparage the driver for leaving the scene. Let’s not demonize her for an aspect of the accident that seems to have possibly not been her fault. In fact, one might take it further and wonder if she deserves any sympathy at all for being freaked out after hitting an aggressive and/or oblivious, and/or scofflaw pedestrian. (Don’t hit me, it’s late, I’m just saying…..)
I’m not saying so. Georgia state law says so.
It IS what the law states and it IS a stupid thing to do.
The law states “approaching fromt he rear.” That implies you behind the bus, not in the next lane over.
If you are in a different lane than a bus, there is no reason to stop, nor law that says you must stop, when it stops (unless its a school bus).
I think I misunderstood you- I thought you were arguing for whipping around when there isn’t another lane- you can do that on many, many roads. I therefore thought you were kinda mean.
Haha, no, I think whipping around a bus on a one-lane-per-direction road is asking for trouble, and clearly should be illegal.
I guess “pass” in this context is kind of ambiguous. Sorry for the confusion.
Jeff Wrote:
“The law states āapproaching fromt he rear.ā That implies you behind the bus, not in the next lane over. ”
Laws are never written to “imply” anything. Overtaking and passing must take place in adjacent lanes. Whether the overtaking vehicle was originally behind the stopped vehicle is irrelevant. What type of vehicle is stopped is irrelevant. This law was specifically written to protect pedestrians using a crosswalk. That’s why it’s called “Right of way in crosswalks ” If a vehicle stops at a pedestrian crosswalk you may not drive by it. Pretty simple and it makes sense.
“If a vehicle stops at a pedestrian crosswalk you may not drive by it. Pretty simple and it makes sense.”
This is true, except for when the crosswalk has a WALK/DON’T WALK signal and the signal says DON’T WALK.
Pedestrians do not have absolute right of way in crosswalks.
See section 40-6-22
http://peds.org/resources/pedestrian_right_of_way/
Nice link and it totally backs my interpretation.
There are no exceptions in 40-6-91
The fact that a pedestrian is crossing against a light does not exempt an operator from obeying this law.
There’s no excuse for leaving the scene when you hit a pedestrian. Hopefully jail time is mandatory for hit and run.
There’s also no excuse for how brazen and/or utterly clueless pedestrians have become in Atlanta.
Just about every time I am at a red light in a pedestrian heavy area, some dumb jackass will walk right into the crosswalk and across the street at the exact instant the opposing light turns green.
Re passing stopped buses or anything else: It’s always unwise to pass a vehicle that’s so big that one cannot see what’s around it. Not only can you hit a pedestrian who you can’t see quickly enough, but you also might hit an on-coming car. The frequent stopping and visibility issues are the downsides of large buses, trolleys, trucks, school buses, and even post office jeeps. In a city with loads of big buses, people learn to accept the frequent stopping. Plus, in NYC and Chicago, the buses are so big and aggressive that one passes them in a vehicle or does anything near them at one’s own risk! Here, drivers feel that it is their right to move at the maximum allowable speed at all times and will righteously do all sorts of crazy things like pass buses blind to anything else in the road, just to maintain their own speed and convenience. But it’s a rare city street that has a minimum speed and public and safety vehicles can hold up traffic when appropriate.
There is no reason to stop just because a bus in the lane next to you stops (unless it’s a school bus). Could someone jump out into the street? Yes. But it would be far more dangerous if everyone in the vicinity of a bus were to stop every time a bus stops.
I agree wholeheartedly that many pedestrians in Decatur (with the exception of those blogging on DM, of course) have left their brains behind and think that cars can stop on a dime if they are jaywalking across the street … and there are times when I wished I COULD just bump that sauntering young man/woman who thinks the middle of Ponce is his personal fashion runway tand looks at me–heck DARES me to hit him….that said, I can’t believe that anyone would leave the scene after hitting a pedestrian.
We have big problems with the timing of our lights (don’t get me started on how short our “walk/don’t walk” intersections are!) besides general courtesy between all bikers/walkers and drivers, we really need to get a handle on our traffic situation in this area.
Good article on the roundabout:
http://landmatters.wordpress.com/2010/07/13/roundabout-being-utilized-to-aid-traffic-congestion-in-emory-village-lci-area/