Driver in crash on I-20 ran from officers, was hit by other cars, police say

A man who crashed into a guardrail early Friday was killed after being hit by several vehicles when he got out of his car on I-20, according to Cobb County police.

The multivehicle crash closed the westbound lanes near Six Flags Over Georgia for several hours, snarling traffic in both directions.

Investigators said they believe Albert Lewis, 44, of Stockbridge, was driving eastbound approaching Riverside Parkway shortly before 5 a.m. That’s when his 2004 Acura TSX left the right side of the road and hit a guardrail and concrete bridge support column, police said. The impact pushed the Acura onto the left shoulder.

“Our uniformed patrol officers were dispatched to check the area for this single vehicle accident,” Cobb police said in a statement. “Upon the arrival of responding officers, Mr. Lewis exited the Acura and fled the scene.”

No details were released about what may have prompted Lewis to try to avoid officers.

Lewis entered the westbound lanes into the path of a 2018 Nissan Versa, police said. The Nissan hit Lewis, and while he was in the road, he was hit by several other vehicles, including a 2016 Freightliner tractor-trailer, according to investigators.

Lewis died at the scene. The drivers who struck him were not injured, according to police.