Chamblee police are investigating a pedestrian death on Savoy Drive just east of North Shallowford Road Saturday evening.

Kenneth Del Dillard, 50, apparently was walking along a narrow strip of grass alongside the road and stepped into the roadway, where he was struck by a Nissan Pathfinder, Chamblee Police Chief Marc Johnson said.  He died at the scene.

Dillard had been drinking and was headed to see a friend, and walked rather than driving because of that, a friend told police.

Police tests showed the driver who hit Dillard, 30-year-old Joel Kristopher Hillsman, was not impaired.

"The driver said [Dillard] stepped out in front of the road and we don’t have anything to dispute that," Johnson said. "There's no indication the vehicle left the roadway."

The accident site is dark and Dillard was wearing all black clothing, Johnson added.

Hillsman was released without charges.  Police know of no other witnesses.

The site is near the Allure lounge and a bowling alley, but it does not appear Dillard went to either of them, Johnson said.

Dillard lived in an apartment complex on North Peachtree Road, a few blocks away.

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In this file photo from October 2024, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler and teammates react after losing to the San Diego Padres 5-4 in San Diego. The Braves and Soler, who now plays for the Los Angeles Angels, face a lawsuit by a fan injured at a 2021 World Series game at Truist Park in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

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