Fmr. DeKalb County fire capt. ID'd as wrong-way driver in fatal crash, police say

UNION CITY, Ga. — On Tuesday, a medical examiner will perform autopsies on the three victims of a deadly wrong-way crash. It happened early Monday morning.

We first brought you this story on Channel 2 Action News This Morning.

Kenniss Harrell, a former DeKalb County fire captain, was driving a maroon Lexus the wrong way down South Fulton Parkway around 1:45 a.m., police said. The Lexus smashed into the front of a red Camaro at a high speed.

Harrell and the driver and the passenger of the other vehicle all died in the crash.

The Fulton County medical examiner identified the people in the other car as Michael Fullwood, 55, and Kathy Stevens, 56.

Loved ones placed vibrant flowers and balloons near the sight of the crash Monday night in honor of Harrell, Fullwood and Stevens.

"He would lead us on a hike every Saturday up Stone Mountain," Kim Jackson, who was part of a hiking group with Harrell, told Channel 2's Rikki Klaus. "He's loved. He's loved. And he will definitely be greatly missed."

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Ed Austin told Channel 2's Steve Gehlbach he pulled over and checked on the victims. He said Harrell was fading and the passenger of the Camaro was dead, but he stayed with the driver.

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He said the female in the Camaro was trapped and had to be cut out before being rushed to the hospital.

Austin said he moved over one lane at the last second.

“As soon as I got beside them, it happened. I saw the headlights and thought, ‘He’s not in my lane,’ and I looked and it already happened. The first thing I did was pull over and check on the drivers of both vehicles,” Austin said.

Charlotte Hubbard, who appeared at the crash site Monday night, said she'll remember Harrell as funny and generous. She said she is also praying for the families of the other victims.

“Everybody is devastated. This is a family member to us, and although we’re not his blood family, we’ve been around him for years, and it’s hard. You realize just how precious life is and how much you miss somebody when they’re gone,” Hubbard said.

Police said they are investigating the cause of the crash.

Cox Media Group