A man caught breaking into a Douglasville Best Buy was killed Friday morning after running from police and trying to cross I-20, authorities said.
The incident began about 4:20 a.m. when a Douglasville police officer patrolling the area noticed two men trying to break into the back door of the big box store on Douglas Boulevard, Maj. J.R. Davidson said.
“Both suspects immediately ran on foot toward I-20, a distance of about 50 yards,” Davidson said.
One of the men made it across the interstate, but the second was struck and killed, according to police.
The surviving suspect was caught a short time later near Rose Avenue. Police identified him as 30-year-old David John Olson of Decatur and determined he was involved in another burglary Jan. 31 at a T-Mobile store on Douglas Boulevard. He is charged with two counts of burglary, two counts of damage to property, prowling and possession of tools for the commission of a crime.
Police have not released the name of the man killed.
The crash shut down the eastbound lanes of the interstate for more than four hours Friday, snarling traffic during the morning commute. By 6:30 a.m., eastbound traffic was backed up from Ga. 5 to Post Road, prompting authorities to urge drivers to take alternate routes.
Police completed the crash investigation just before 8:30 a.m. and reopened the interstate, but heavy delays remained until about 10 a.m.
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