A pedestrian was struck in a hit-and-run collision at the rainbow crosswalk intersection of 10th Street and Piedmont Avenue in Midtown Atlanta on Monday afternoon. The incident occurred just after 1:30 p.m. when a white vehicle plowed through the crosswalk, striking a pedestrian and sending him airborne before fleeing the scene without stopping. Witnesses, including Alejandro Alzate and local business owners Rocky Carroll of Boy Next Door Menswear and Vladimir Chacon of Flying Biscuit Cafe, reported seeing the victim lying injured in the street with significant bleeding from his head and other parts of his body. Emergency services, including ambulance, Midtown police officers, and fire department personnel, arrived within approximately five minutes to provide assistance. The victim was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital where he is currently recovering from his injuries. This marks the second pedestrian strike at a Midtown crosswalk in just two weeks, following an incident involving Ashley Drumm, who is still hospitalized and has undergone two surgeries. Atlanta police are actively investigating this hit-and-run but have not yet released a description of the driver.

Location and Infrastructure

The intersection of 10th Street and Piedmont Avenue is one of Midtown Atlanta's busiest pedestrian crossings, notable for its rainbow-painted crosswalk that serves as a landmark in the heart of the city's vibrant Midtown district. This area experiences heavy foot traffic due to its proximity to numerous restaurants, retail establishments like Boy Next Door Menswear, Flying Biscuit Cafe, and other popular businesses that attract both locals and visitors. The intersection features standard traffic signals and marked crosswalks designed to facilitate safe pedestrian movement, but has increasingly become a safety concern due to multiple accidents. This corridor connects several major arteries through Midtown, creating significant vehicle volume throughout the day. The dense urban environment, combined with driver inattention and reports of speeding through the area, has created hazardous conditions despite the clearly marked pedestrian infrastructure, raising urgent concerns about traffic calming measures in this bustling commercial and residential district.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Under Georgia law, victims of hit-and-run accidents have several legal recourse options. Georgia Code § 40-6-270 requires drivers involved in accidents resulting in injury to stop immediately, render aid, and provide identifying information; failure to do so constitutes a felony offense. Injured pedestrians may pursue claims against the at-fault driver through both criminal and civil proceedings. Georgia operates under a modified comparative negligence system (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33), meaning victims can recover damages as long as they are less than 50% responsible for the incident. Potential compensation may include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and punitive damages in cases of particularly egregious conduct like hit-and-run. Victims should be aware of Georgia's two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33). If the at-fault driver remains unidentified, victims may still receive compensation through their own uninsured motorist coverage, assuming their policy includes such protection.

Related Resources

Emergency Services:

• Grady Memorial Hospital Trauma Center: (404) 616-1000
• Atlanta Police Department, Zone 5 Precinct: (404) 817-0484
• Atlanta Fire Rescue Department: (404) 546-7000

Traffic Safety Resources:

• Pedestrians Educating Drivers on Safety (PEDS): (404) 885-7281
• Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety: (404) 656-6996
• Midtown Alliance Safety Programs: (404) 892-0050

Victim Support Services:

• Crime Victims Advocacy Council: (404) 215-2213
• Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program: (800) 547-0060
• Brain Injury Association of Georgia: (404) 712-5504

Legal Information:

• Georgia Department of Driver Services: dds.georgia.gov
• Georgia Code of Laws (Traffic): www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/gacode(link is external)
• State Bar of Georgia Lawyer Referral Service: (404) 527-8700