Five people died in crashes on metro Atlanta interstates over the weekend, including four in Atlanta, authorities said. Three of the victims were outside their vehicles when they were hit.
Around 3:30 a.m., 23-year-old Jacquelin Vazquez was hit and killed on I-75 North near Cleveland Avenue after getting out of her disabled vehicle, police said. The driver who hit Vazquez fled on foot, according to police.
Lil Bankhead,” who was driving home from work, said he was caught in traffic after the crash.
“I was just like, wow, like wow, ’cause I’ve never just seen a body in the middle of the highway,” Bankhead said. “It didn’t seem right because the car was over by the exit, a body in the middle of the highway.
About 90 minutes earlier, a man was killed after running into traffic on the northbound Downtown Connector near University Avenue, police said. Investigators believe the man was experiencing a mental health crisis.
26-year-old Michaela Kemp was killed after a fight spilled onto I-85 South near Ga. 400, police said. Kemp ran into traffic and was hit by a vehicle.
Two other people were killed in crashes over the weekend. One person died in a single-vehicle crash on I-20 that caused the vehicle to catch fire. Another person died after a vehicle crashed into a parked tractor-trailer near the interchange separating I-75 and I-575 in Cobb County
Frederick Huff, owner of Safety-N-Motion Driving School, said drivers should expect the unexpected on interstates and use a defensive driving mindset.
“Things happen like that, but you got to be aware situationally where you are and what you’re doing behind the wheel and on the road,” Huff said.
Two fatal crashes occurred early morning, a few miles and hours apart.
Huff said he has taught about 1,000 students during the past decade. He said drivers whose vehicles become disabled on an interstate should remain alert and, if possible, move the vehicle safely onto the shoulder.
“Number one, stay in the vehicle. Make sure you’re buckled and safe and stay in the vehicle,” Huff said. “You want to make sure that you’re safe and that you can get out of the flow of traffic if you can.
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