Both vehicles were towed from the scene. North Avenue and Peachtree Street remained blocked as Atlanta police investigated.
A MARTA Police Department officer has been charged in relation to a crash in Midtown Atlanta in February, including a count of first-degree homicide by vehicle. A 72-year-old man died in the wreck.
The department issued a release Wednesday saying Officer Deion Alexander had turned himself in at the Fulton County jail to face his charges, which also include reckless driving, unsafe operation of an emergency vehicle, and failure to obey signs and control devices.
He has also been terminated as of Tuesday, a release said, following an internal investigation.
The crash happened on the afternoon of February 2 when Alexander was responding to the North Avenue MARTA station as part of the MARTA PD Criminal Apprehension Team, “regarding an officer needing help with an arrest.”
Alexander was en route to the station in his police vehicle with lights and sirens activated when he collided with a car at North Avenue and Peachtree Street. According to MARTA PD, three officers with Alexander, a pedestrian, and a pᴀssenger in the other car were injured and initially hospitalized.
According to the arrest warrant, Alexander was traveling 77 mph five seconds before the crash and 64 mph one second before, based on data from the vehicle’s airbag. The warrant also stated that Alexander drove through 11 red lights while traveling northbound on Peachtree.
The pedestrian later died, with injuries reported to the head, left elbow, both legs, and abdomen. He was identified by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office as 72-year-old Thomas Bush.
“The entire MARTA Police Department is saddened by this traffic event. Police work is always difficult, but we also have a responsibility to keep the public safe when doing our work,” said MARTA PD Chief M. Scott Kreher in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those involved.”
The driver of the vehicle hit by Alexander suffered injuries to his head and left eye. The three other CAT officers reported head and leg injuries.
