SUV involved in DeKalb hit-and-runs found in Marietta; suspect still wanted

DeKalb County police are still looking for a vehicular homicide suspect accused of a series of hit-and-runs after Marietta police found the suspect’s vehicle.

Five people were inside the vehicle, but police determined that none of them were the hit-and-run suspect, DeKalb police spokeswoman Michaela Vincent said Monday night. They were all released without charges.

An officer pulled a silver Hyundai Santa Fe to the side of I-75 South near Windy Hill Road about 6:20 a.m., according to a Marietta police spokesman. He was alerted by a license plate reader camera that the vehicle was wanted in connection with three hit-and-runs, including one that left a man dead at a DeKalb County park.

The Hyundai belonged to the victim, who has not been identified. DeKalb police believe it was taken after he was killed in a hit-and-run at Wade Walker Park about 10:45 a.m. Sunday.

It was used in two subsequent hit-and-run incidents within the span of four hours, Vincent said.

At North DeKalb Mall, a family of six riding their bicycles was hit by a similar vehicle about 2:15 p.m., she said. A 4-year-old was critically injured.

“Further investigation revealed that the same vehicle was involved in another incident in another jurisdiction today at approximately 12 p.m., which circumstances are still under investigation,” Vincent said Sunday night.

No further details about that incident have been released.

Marietta police spokesman Chuck McPhilamy said that anyone driving a stolen vehicle would normally be charged with theft by receiving. However, he said the nature of this case complicates matters.

“Due to the complex nature and severity of the (hit-and-run related) charges, both departments agreed that everything would be turned over to DeKalb County police investigators,” he said.

The police activity blocked one lane of traffic on I-75 for an hour before it was cleared about 7:30 a.m., according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

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