A man was killed early Wednesday morning in DeKalb County, Georgia, after he was struck by a tractor-trailer while standing beside his disabled vehicle on Highway 78 eastbound, just past Mountain Industrial Boulevard. According to the DeKalb County Police Department, officers responded at approximately 1:44 a.m. to reports of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle. Investigators said the man had been driving eastbound on Highway 78 when he lost control of his vehicle, struck a guardrail, and came to a stop across multiple travel lanes. He then got out of the car and was standing next to it when a tractor-trailer hit both him and the disabled vehicle. When officers arrived, they found that the man had died at the scene. The tractor-trailer driver remained at the scene after the crash. Police have not released the victim's name pending notification of his next of kin, and authorities have not said what caused the initial loss of control. The DeKalb County Police Department's investigation remains ongoing. Our thoughts are with the victim's family and loved ones during this difficult time.

Location and Infrastructure

In this part of DeKalb County, Highway 78 is the Stone Mountain Freeway, a divided, limited-access highway linking the I-285 Perimeter with Tucker, Stone Mountain, and communities farther east toward Snellville in Gwinnett County. The interchange at Mountain Industrial Boulevard serves a major industrial and distribution corridor, which brings a steady mix of commercial trucks and commuter vehicles onto the freeway. Although overnight traffic volumes are generally lighter, highway speeds, darkness, and limited lighting between interchanges can leave drivers little time to react to a stopped vehicle in the travel lanes. Guardrails line portions of the corridor, which runs a short distance west of Stone Mountain Park. Drivers can check Georgia 511 for current incidents, lane closures, and traffic conditions along the route.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Georgia's wrongful death statute (O.C.G.A. § 51-4-1 et seq.) allows a surviving spouse or children, or in their absence parents or the estate's personal representative, to seek recovery for the "full value of the life" of the decedent. A separate estate claim may address funeral and medical expenses and any conscious pain and suffering. Georgia generally sets a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death claims (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33), though tolling may apply in limited circumstances. Georgia follows modified comparative negligence (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33): recovery is reduced by a party's percentage of fault and barred at 50 percent or more. Georgia is an at-fault insurance state, and crashes involving commercial vehicles may also involve Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations and the motor carrier's commercial liability coverage.

Related Resources

Local Emergency Services

• DeKalb County Police Department: dekalbcountyga.gov/police-services
• DeKalb County Fire Rescue: dekalbcountyga.gov/fire-rescue
• DeKalb County Medical Examiner's Office: dekalbcountyga.gov/medical-examiner
• Emergencies: dial 911

Traffic Safety Resources

• Georgia 511 (real-time traffic and incidents): 511ga.org
• Georgia Department of Transportation: dot.ga.gov
• Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety: gohs.ga.gov
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: nhtsa.gov

Support Services for Accident Victims and Families

• Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program (Criminal Justice Coordinating Council): crimevictimscomp.ga.gov
• The Compassionate Friends (grief support for families who have lost a child): compassionatefriends.org
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (24/7 emotional support): call or text 988

State Traffic Laws and Regulations

• Georgia General Assembly (Official Code of Georgia, Title 40 – Motor Vehicles and Traffic): legis.ga.gov
• Georgia Department of Driver Services: dds.georgia.gov
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (commercial truck regulations): fmcsa.dot.gov