Investigators are focusing on the warning signs at a freeway ramp near the site of a wrong-way crash that killed a local police officer.
“It is very, very hard to investigate the death of one of your own, very emotional,” said Fulton County Police Department Cpl. Kay Lester.
FCPD detectives have to put that emotion aside as investigators work to figure out how an SUV ended up going the wrong way on South Fulton Parkway early Saturday morning, causing a fiery crash that killed DeKalb County Police Officer Kevin Toatley on his way home from work.
“All death investigations are urgent, but we want to make sure we get it right this time,” Lester said.
On Monday, Channel 2 Action News confirmed police and the Georgia Department of Transportation are looking into whether a faded “no right turn” sign at the top of the Buffington Road off ramp, the one closest to the crash site, played any role.
“To definitely see what can be fixed, what can be replaced, repaired and to see how this exactly happened,” Lester explained.
Several drivers in that area told Channel 2's Aaron Diamant they could see how someone could miss the sign.
“Especially at night,” said one driver. “Because this light takes a long time to turn and people won’t even see that red part at night.”
Diamant did see several other warning signs at the top of the ramp, though one was partially blocked by trees. Meanwhile, police are still waiting to speak with the SUV's driver, who remains at a local hospital, to find out what she did and did not see.
“The detectives want to speak with her so they can get an understanding what her state of mind might have been at that time and to definitively confirm where she believes she was going and how she entered the roadway,” said Lester.
Two other adults and two children in the SUV at the time of the crash also remain the hospital. Meanwhile, a GDOT spokesperson said the agency is aware the condition of the sign and is looking into it.
WSBTV
