31-year-old woman, several others injured, taken to hospital, after they are struck at a MARTA bus stop in Union City, by a driver fleeing police.

Modified Date: 
Wed, 09/24/2014 - 11:28am
Accident Date: 
Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Driver fleeing police crashes into bus stop, injuring waiting passenger.

An innocent bystander remained hospitalized Friday morning after being seriously injured when a driver crashed into her as he was trying to avoid being captured by police officers.

An innocent bystander remained hospitalized Friday morning after being seriously injured when a driver crashed into her as he was trying to avoid being captured by police officers.

According to Sgt. Anthony Bazydlo of the Fairburn Police Department, the 31-year-old woman was one of several people injured when a man driving a Dodge Durango crashed into another vehicle before slamming into a MARTA bus stop in Union City.

The woman, whose name had not yet been released, was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital. Other pedestrians sustained minor injuries, and the two occupants of the Durango also had non-life threatening injuries.

The incident began on Highway 29 when Fairburn police stopped the Durango at about 9:30 p.m. on Thursday.

When the officer approached the vehicle, the driver hit the gas and sped off, turning off his headlights, police said. Fairburn officers attempted to catch up to the speeding driver who turned east on Highway 138. He continued at a high rate of speed into Union City, according to police.

"He was trying very hard to get away," said Bazydlo. "He had the blacked-out headlights, very high rate of speed, driving very recklessly with absolutely no regard for anyone else on the road."

All but one Fairburn officer abandoned the pursuit after losing sight of the fleeing car, he said.

The remaining Fairburn police cruiser slowed its speed to continue looking for the car, according to Bazydlo. The officer drove up on the wreck at Highway 138 near Shannon Way. The suspect's vehicle had struck an SUV and then veered into the bus stop.

"The suspect driver, he jumped out," Bazydlo said. "He fled the scene on foot. He is still at large. However, the two occupants that were in the vehicle with him did not flee the scene. They remained on scene and they were cooperative with police."

The crash closed all lanes of Highway 138 and Shannon Way. Those lanes were re-opened around 1 a.m. Friday.

The Union City Police Department is investigating the crash and will seek charges against the driver. Fairburn police also are seeking charges against the driver for the initial offenses.

Police describe the driver as a black man, approximately 40 years old, wearing a white T-shirt and black shorts with a white stripe on the side.

People Involved: 
Roadway: 
Highway 29

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