Hit-and-run driver leaves 2 women in serious condition

ATLANTA, Ga. — Atlanta police are looking for a driver who hit and seriously injured two women sitting on a retaining wall and ran away from the scene.

The incident happened shortly before midnight at Rose Circle Park on Peeples Street in southwest Atlanta.

“They were just sitting out here conversing and were struck by the vehicle at a pretty high rate of speed,” said Atlanta Police Capt. Scott Kreher.

Police said the driver came around a curb, left the road and hit the women. The driver continued, plowing into the brick wall and dragged the women up a small embankment. A chained link fence and a fire hydrant were struck during the crash.

One of the victims, identified as Adrienne Smith, was pinned under the vehicle.

Channel 2’s Amanda Cook spoke to Charles Ward, an area resident, who was getting ready for bed when he heard the crash and went outside to help the victims.

“Until someone came, I just prayed with the young lady on the outside of the van, trying to keep her conscious because she was just out of it. And so I kept talking to her until the paramedics came,” Ward said.

Police said Smith’s left leg was partially severed. Briana Johnson, the other victim, suffered a broken pelvis.

"Those females have been transported to Grady Memorial Hospital in serious condition. It appears the driver fled the scene before police arrived," Kreher said.

Police said an Atlanta Public Schools security worker saw the driver running from the scene. The driver has not been located. The vehicle he was driving in the crash may have been stolen from an Avis rental lot, police said.

Ward said he hopes the driver turns himself in and that people would drive more carefully on the road.

"We just got to slow down and make the right decisions. It's a shame," Ward said.

WSBTV