UPDATE: The Cobb County Police Department issued the following update:

“The Cobb County Medical Examiner’s Officer has positively identified the deceased as 29-year-old Edward M. Fowler of Douglasville. His family has been notified of his death. ”

According to a public information release from Officer Sydney Melton of the Cobb County Police Department the department’s Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) unit is investigating a fatal pedestrian accident on I-20 near Factory Shoals Road.

According to investigators, at 2:27 a.m. this morning the driver of a Land Rover rear-ended a tractor-trailer while both vehicles were headed west on I-20 near Factory Shoals Road.

The driver of the tractor-trailer exited at Thornton Road then turned around to return to the scene of the accident.

Meanwhile the driver of the Land Rover left his vehicle in the left emergency lane and attempted to cross I-20 on foot. He was struck by multiple vehicles, and killed at the scene.

The truck driver, a 38-year old male from Montgomery Alabama, was not injured in the accident.

The identity of the deceased driver of the Land Rover was not released, pending identification by the Cobb County Medical Examiner.

According to the public information release, “The collision remains under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact the Cobb County Police Department at 770-499-3987.”

The STEP Unit

The STEP Unit, which investigates serious or fatal traffic crashes, is one of the Cobb County Police Department’s Special Operations units, and  is described on the web page of the Cobb County Police Department as follows:

“The Selective Traffic Enforcement Unit is responsible for investigating all fatal traffic crashes, enforcement of traffic laws in those areas which analysis indicates an elevated amount of crashes. They are also responsible for the administration and execution of the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program. They also take part in special security details, and investigate crashes involving Department vehicles when requested.”