A 19-year-old man died Monday morning after being struck by a van while placing construction flags on Lavista Road in North Druid Hills, Georgia, according to DeKalb County police. The crash occurred around 9:21 a.m. near the intersection of Lavista Road and Wembley Court, a residential area in unincorporated DeKalb County. Officers responding to a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle found the victim, identified as Dylan Wayland, dead at the scene from his injuries.

According to DeKalb County police, Wayland was working in the roadway placing flags for an active construction zone when a van traveling westbound on Lavista Road left the roadway, crossed over the curb, and struck him. The driver of the van remained at the scene following the crash and was not injured. As of the latest available information, DeKalb County police have not announced any charges in connection with the incident, and the investigation into the specific cause of the crash remains ongoing. Authorities have not released additional details about what may have caused the van to leave the travel lane before the collision occurred.

Location and Infrastructure

Lavista Road is a heavily traveled east-west corridor running through North Druid Hills and surrounding DeKalb County communities, connecting residential neighborhoods to commercial corridors near Emory University, Toco Hills, and the broader Druid Hills area. The road carries substantial commuter and local traffic throughout the day, including near its intersection with Wembley Court, a residential side street. Roads like Lavista that pass through active construction zones often require temporary traffic control measures, including flaggers, cones, signage, and reduced speed zones, to help manage the transition between normal traffic flow and work areas. Portions of Lavista Road have been subject to ongoing infrastructure projects in DeKalb County, underscoring the importance of driver attentiveness and adherence to posted work-zone speed limits in this corridor.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Under Georgia law, drivers are required to exercise due care to avoid colliding with pedestrians and workers in roadways, and additional statutory protections often apply within designated construction or work zones, including reduced speed limits and enhanced penalties for violations. Fatal crashes involving construction workers may give rise to claims investigated under Georgia's wrongful death statute (O.C.G.A. § 51-4-1 et seq.), which allows certain surviving family members to pursue compensation for losses including funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial support, and the full value of the life of the deceased. Georgia generally imposes a two-year statute of limitations for wrongful death and personal injury claims, though exceptions may apply. Insurance considerations may involve the driver's auto liability coverage, and potentially the construction company's workers' compensation or third-party liability coverage. Families are encouraged to consult a qualified professional to understand their specific rights and options.

Related Resources

• DeKalb County Police Department – Non-emergency line for crash inquiries and reports: (770) 724-7850
• DeKalb County 911/Emergency Services – For emergencies: 911
• Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) – Work Zone Safety: https://www.dot.ga.gov
• Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety: https://www.gahighwaysafety.org
• Georgia Crash Reports Online Purchase System (for official crash report requests): https://gcrs.gcrash.com
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) – Pedestrian Safety: https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/pedestrian-safety
• Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program – Support for victims and families: https://gcvcp.georgia.gov
• Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) – Traffic Laws, Title 40: https://law.justia.com/georgia/codes/title-40/

This article is based on confirmed details reported by Atlanta News First as of the time of publication. Details of the ongoing investigation may be updated as new information becomes available.