‘Charisma, heart and energy’: 28-year-old killed in weekend hit-and-run

Ethan McAllister, 28, died after a hit-and-run crash Saturday morning.

Credit: Family Photo

Credit: Family Photo

Ethan McAllister, 28, died after a hit-and-run crash Saturday morning.

A 28-year-old man was killed Saturday morning in a hit-and-run crash in the Lindbergh area of Buckhead.

Ethan McAllister died after he was hit while walking on Piedmont Road near Lindbergh Drive around 3 a.m., Atlanta police said in a news release. McAllister was struck by a dark-colored Range Rover, which left him injured at the scene. He was taken to the hospital, where he died from his injuries, police said.

A fundraiser in McAllister’s name has raised more than $60,000 and inspired a wave of condolences for his family. Mourners left heartfelt comments on the GoFundMe page set up by a friend of the McAllister family.

“You brought so much laughter and joy to everyone’s life. Your bright smile, your charisma, heart, and energy was so dynamic,” one commenter said.

Another commenter who said she was McAllister’s waitress the night before he died described him as polite and funny.

“He was such a sweet young man,” she said. “Rest easy, Ethan.”

On Facebook, popular bar and restaurant The Ivy Buckhead promoted the fundraiser and offered condolences to McAllister’s family.

“We can tell how many lives he has truly touched,” the business said in a post. “We always enjoyed his big smile and infectious personality.”

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Ethan Mcallister.... we can tell how many lives he has...

Posted by The Ivy Buckhead on Sunday, April 4, 2021

McAllister’s death grabbed national headlines when reality TV star Kim Zolciak-Biermann and her daughter, Brielle Biermann, each wrote long social media posts about him.

“We love you Ethan and I will make sure justice is served,” Zolciak-Biermann said on Instagram.

“You are my best friend. My heart. My everything,” Brielle Biermann wrote on Instagram. “There was never a moment I wasn’t laughing with you!”

According to the GoFundMe page, McAllister graduated from Georgia Tech.