Metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta

Moments after hit-and-run, driver dies in fiery crash outside Kroger

A car split in two outside a northeast Atlanta Kroger on Thurs., April 14, 2016. (Credit: Channel 2 Action News)
A car split in two outside a northeast Atlanta Kroger on Thurs., April 14, 2016. (Credit: Channel 2 Action News)
By Lauren Foreman
April 14, 2016

A driver who left the scene of an accident was killed when a vehicle hit a metal pole, split in two and caught fire early Thursday outside a northeast Atlanta Kroger grocery store, police said.

Just before 1 a.m., a 2008 Honda on Ponce de Leon Avenue struck another vehicle from behind and did not stop, Atlanta police spokeswoman Officer Kim Jones said.

The driver passed Ponce City Market, continued east and lost control of the Honda. That’s when the vehicle hit the metal utility pole.

“The impact caused the vehicle to split and immediately catch fire” at the intersection of Ponce de Leon Avenue and Ponce de Leon Place, which is in front of the Kroger, Jones said. “The driver likely died upon impact.”

A pedestrian was struck by debris, but was not seriously injured.

The driver’s name and other details were not released.

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Lauren Foreman
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