Special needs teen fatally hit by van shortly after being reported missing
A 13-year-old boy with special needs was hit by a minivan and killed shortly after he was reported missing Monday, according to Gwinnett County police.
About 10:30 p.m., authorities learned Jecolia Karikari-Prempe of Loganville was fatally struck while trying to cross Athens Highway, less than two miles from his home, police spokeswoman Cpl. Michele Pihera said Tuesday in a news release.
The teen’s mother had called police that evening after he slipped out of their Sweet Ashley Way residence while she was showering, according to the release. She told them she went to check on him and found his tablet in the garage. The garage door was open and Jecolia was gone, police said.
The woman drove around looking for him. Officers were sent to her home and she and police continued to search for the boy, according to Pihera. The search stopped when police got the call about the deadly crash.
The driver of the van will not face charges, Pihera said.
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About the Author
Asia Simone Burns is a watchdog reporter for the AJC. Burns was formerly an intern in AJC’s newsroom and now writes about crime. She is a graduate of Samford University and has previously reported for NPR and WABE, Atlanta’s NPR member station.
