Police searching for pickup truck driver they say struck, killed pedestrian

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Smyrna Police are searching for the driver of a pickup truck they say hit and killed a pedestrian and left the scene.

The accident happened on South Cobb Drive around 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Channel 2's Chris Jose was in Cobb County, where police are still trying to identify the driver. Police are not releasing the victim's name at this time.

Police said the pedestrian was trying to cross a busy stretch of road when the pickup truck hit him. They said driver got out of the truck for a few minutes after hitting the victim, then panicked and left the scene.

Jose spoke to a witness, who snapped cellphone pictures of the silver Chevy Silverado as it sped away.

Gordon Jackson also spoke to the driver before he took off. Jackson said the driver stayed at the scene for several moments, apparently in shock about what happened.

"He got out of the car and said, 'I didn't see him' That's what he said, 'I didn't see him,'" Gordon said. "He kept saying 'I have a family. I don't have a license.' And I'm like, 'I'm not here for you. Let's just help this guy.'"

Jackson said the man told him he had to leave and sped off.

Jackson told Jose he regrets that he didn't convince the driver to stay until police arrived.

The search is on for the driver of this pick-up truck. Smyrna police say he hit & killed a pedestrian and left the scene at S Cobb Drive/Church Rd. @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/eoJzakFW1R

— Chris Jose (@ChrisJoseWSB) January 18, 2019

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Police said the male victim is between 50 and 60 years old, but it has been difficult to identify him because he did not have any identification cards.

Another witness, who didn't want to be identified, issued a plea to anyone who may know who the victim is or the driver is.

"Please, anybody missing a family member who didn’t come home last night, reach out to the Smyrna Police department," the witness said. "Please help this family bring this man to justice. Because he (the driver) ran this man down like a rag doll."

Police said the truck  has a unique front license plate with the words USA on it.

Police said the driver was driving illegally in the center lane before he reached a left-turn lane. The victim was not in the crosswalk.

Jose spoke to Smyrna police Sgt. Louis Defense, who said the crime is heartless.

"The fact that he didn't call, he didn't render aid, makes this rather heinous," Defense said.

Cox Media Group