After a speeding car crashed into an auto repair business on Moreland Avenue earlier this month, DeKalb County police announced a crackdown on the notorious racing problem on the road.
Days later, a man died in what police alleged was a racing incident near South River Industrial Boulevard — a mile from the main area of concern, which is the intersection of Key Road.
Nicholas O. Mond, 48, died in a wreck with Omar Ramirez-Hernandez, 25, at about 3:50 a.m. Saturday, according to warrants. While police alleged in the documents that the two were racing, Mond’s family said he wasn’t and was simply on his way to work when he was killed.
DeKalb police charged Ramirez-Hernandez with reckless driving, racing and felony vehicular homicide.
Ramirez-Hernandez, who was arrested Saturday and released from jail two days later, didn’t immediately return a call requesting comment. DeKalb police also didn’t immediately return a request for comment.
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Efforts to reach Mond's family weren't successful. His obituary said he was "a devoted son, husband and father."
The death happened less than a week after police were out in force on a Sunday night, with 30 units on hand to arrest accused racers. Police spoke of the dangers the racers were causing by regularly wrecking on the busy road.
"Driving is a privilege in DeKalb County,” police Lt. J. Germano told Channel 2 Action News at the time. “We're not going to put up with it anymore."
Michael Parrish, the owner of the auto repair shop that was hit Aug. 12, said he’s made repairs to his business a half-dozen times over the last few years because of cars slamming into it. He even installed concrete barriers.
Germano said the troubles had gone on long enough and police would plan further operations to get order on the road.
“We're not going away,” Germano said. “The street racers are going to go away.”
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