Man running from officer hit, killed on interstate, police say

SOUTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating the death of a man who police say ran from one of their officers and on to the interstate early Wednesday morning.

The College Park police chief told Channel 2's Liz Artz the man was on the bridge on Old National Highway near Interstate 85 when an officer recognized him as a man with an outstanding warrant.

The chief said it was a failure to appear warrant, but he did not know the crime.

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Chief Keith Meadows said the man ran from his officer, who then chased him in his vehicle as the man ran onto the interstate. Authorities said the man climbed over three 5-foot barriers before being hit by at least one car.

"One of the beat officers actually knew him to be wanted out of the city of College Park. He failed to appear in court and that’s what he attempted to conduct pedestrian stop," Meadows said.

The investigation tied up traffic for hours in the area.

Channel 2 Action News spoke to a relative of one of the drivers involved.

"A man came from nowhere and she hit him and he flew in the air and other cars hit him. Everyone was hysterical,” said the driver’s aunt, Lunell Newson. "She was crying and I told her, ‘It’s going to be all right. I'm coming. I'm coming as fast as I can.’”

The Georgia State Patrol is investigating the fatal accident the GBI is investigating the officer’s involvement in the accident.

Officials have not released the identity of the victim.

Cox Media Group