Fatal Hit-and-Run Crash on I-85 North Kills GDOT Contractor Celestino Pora-Carrillo, 37, Injures Second Worker Near Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport

A Georgia Department of Transportation contractor was killed and a second worker was left with life-threatening injuries Thursday afternoon after a vehicle struck both men while they were performing landscape work along Interstate 85 North in College Park, Georgia. The crash occurred around 3:05 p.m. near Airport Loop Road, adjacent to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office identified the deceased worker as Celestino Pora-Carrillo, 37. According to the Georgia State Patrol, the two contractors were working in the grass gore area between the I-85 northbound collector-distributor lanes and the ramps to North Inner Loop Road when a white Chevrolet Malibu veered off the roadway, entered the work area, and struck both men before leaving the scene. College Park Police and fire rescue crews responded, and both victims were transported to Grady Memorial Hospital. Pora-Carrillo later succumbed to his injuries, while the second worker remains hospitalized in serious condition. A man subsequently approached officers at the scene, identified himself as the driver, and was taken into custody. Charges are pending.

Location and Infrastructure

The crash took place along a particularly complex stretch of Interstate 85 North in College Park, a city in Fulton County located directly south of Atlanta and home to the world's busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International. This segment of I-85 features a series of collector-distributor lanes — auxiliary roadways that run parallel to the main interstate to manage heavy merge and diverge traffic — alongside multiple ramp connections to North Inner Loop Road and Airport Loop Road. The area experiences exceptionally high traffic volumes driven by commercial vehicles, rideshare and taxi traffic, and travelers accessing the airport. The gore area where the workers were stationed — a triangular zone between diverging roadways — is a recognized high-risk location for roadside workers due to its proximity to live travel lanes and the potential for errant vehicles.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Under Georgia law, workers injured or killed in work zone crashes may be entitled to workers' compensation benefits, which can cover medical expenses, lost wages, and death benefits for surviving dependents. Because the vehicle involved was operated by a third party — not an employer — surviving victims and the family of the deceased may also have grounds to pursue a third-party personal injury or wrongful death claim under O.C.G.A. § 51-4-1 et seq. Georgia's hit-and-run statute (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-270) carries enhanced penalties for drivers who leave the scene of a crash involving injury or death. The state's statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death claims is generally two years from the date of the incident. Compensation in such cases may include medical costs, future care, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and funeral expenses. Affected parties are encouraged to consult qualified legal counsel to understand their rights.

Related Resources

Local Emergency Services

• College Park Police Department: (404) 761-3131
• College Park Fire Rescue: (404) 669-3782
• Grady Memorial Hospital (Level I Trauma Center): (404) 616-1000

Traffic Safety & Investigative Agencies

• Georgia State Patrol – Post 2 (Atlanta): (404) 624-7290
• Georgia State Patrol Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team (SCRT): gsp.georgia.gov
• Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT): (404) 635-8000 | dot.ga.gov

Worker Safety Resources

• Georgia Workers' Compensation – State Board of Workers' Compensation: sbwc.georgia.gov | (404) 656-3875
• OSHA Atlanta-East Area Office (workplace fatality reporting): (678) 903-7301

Victim Support Services

• Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program (CJCC): cjcc.georgia.gov | 1-800-547-0060
• Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office: (404) 730-4400

State Traffic Laws & Regulations

• Georgia's Move Over Law (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-16): Requires drivers to move over or slow down for emergency and work zone vehicles
• Georgia Hit-and-Run Statute (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-270)
• Georgia Work Zone Safety Laws: dot.ga.gov/DriveGeorgia/Safety/WorkZone