Marietta police investigate death of pedestrian who attempted to render aid after collision on I-75

Shield symbol for I-75

Officer Chuck McPhilamy of the Marietta Police Department reported yesterday afternoon that the department’s Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Unit is  investigating a multi-vehicle collision that took place early yesterday morning, September 23, 2023, at around 12:42 AM on I-75 South north of the Delk Road exit ramp.


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The incident led to the death of a pedestrian who attempted to render aid, and to serious injury to another Good Samaritan pedestrian.

The public information release describes the incident as follows:

“The initial on-scene investigation revealed that a Kia Sedona was traveling South on I-75 South approaching the exit for Delk Road when, for reasons unknown, the driver lost control of the vehicle.  

“The Sedona traveled across all lanes of travel, struck the median barrier, then traveled across all lanes of travel again and struck the right-hand guard rail. 

“The Sedona, now stopped partially in the far right-hand lane of travel, was struck by multiple vehicles.  

“While all of this was occurring, a black Dodge Challenger traveling in the far right-hand lane lost control and struck two pedestrians that had stopped on the right-hand shoulder and were attempting to report the initial crash and render aid.”  

The driver of the Kia Sedona received minor injuries and was released.  

The driver of the Dodge Challenger was not injured and was released.  

One of the pedestrians was seriously injured and was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital for treatment.  

The other pedestrian, thirty-eight-year-old Sarah Bolt of Monroe Georgia, did not survive the incident.

The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact STEP Investigator P. Wishon at 770-794-5384.

About the Marietta Police Department STEP Unit

According to the Marietta Police Department web page describing the department’s Uniform Division:

STEP is responsible for investigating fatal and serious injury traffic accidents as well as hit and run accidents. Officers assigned to the STEP unit work varying hours and days to respond to specified needs of the community.

About the City of Marietta

The City of Marietta is the county seat of Cobb County. The latest estimate from the U.S. Census Bureau puts the population of the city at 60,867 which makes it the second largest city in Cobb County by population, smaller only than the newly incorporated City of Mableton.

Here are a few quick facts from the Census Bureau

Marietta city, Georgia
Population, Census, April 1, 202060972
Population, Census, April 1, 201056579
Age and Sex
Persons under 5 years, percent6.7%
Persons under 18 years, percent21.8%
Persons 65 years and over, percent13.2%
Female persons, percent49.9%
Race and Hispanic Origin
White alone, percent53.4%
Black or African American alone, percent(a)32.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent(a)0.6%
Asian alone, percent(a)1.9%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent(a)0.0%
Two or More Races, percent4.7%
Hispanic or Latino, percent(b)15.7%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent46.4%
Population Characteristics
Veterans, 2016-20202678
Foreign born persons, percent, 2016-202016.6%
Housing
Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2016-202044.0%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2016-2020$310,100
Median selected monthly owner costs -with a mortgage, 2016-2020$1,856
Median selected monthly owner costs -without a mortgage, 2016-2020$526
Median gross rent, 2016-2020$1,145
Families & Living Arrangements
Households, 2016-202024148
Persons per household, 2016-20202.39
Living in same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+, 2016-202077.9%
Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2016-202023.7%
Computer and Internet Use
Households with a computer, percent, 2016-202095.1%
Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2016-202086.6%
Education
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2016-202088.6%
Bachelor’s degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2016-202044.0%
Health
With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2016-20206.3%
Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent20.2%
Economy
In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2016-202067.2%
In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2016-202061.2%
Total accommodation and food services sales, 2012 ($1,000)(c)264544
Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2012 ($1,000)(c)1584232
Total manufacturers shipments, 2012 ($1,000)(c)1129407
Total retail sales, 2012 ($1,000)(c)1976915
Total retail sales per capita, 2012(c)$33,875
Transportation
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2016-202028.5
Income & Poverty
Median household income (in 2020 dollars), 2016-2020$59,594
Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2020 dollars), 2016-2020$36,112
Persons in poverty, percent14.1%
Businesses
All firms, 201210501
Men-owned firms, 20124934
Women-owned firms, 20124186
Minority-owned firms, 20124286
Nonminority-owned firms, 20125502
Veteran-owned firms, 20121015
Nonveteran-owned firms, 20128663
Geography
Population per square mile, 20102451.4
Land area in square miles, 201023.08