Metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta

Man seriously hurt after car leaves Cobb highway, smashes into trees

The driver was taken to a hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
The driver was taken to a hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
By
Oct 26, 2020

A driver is in critical condition after his car left a Cobb County highway and smashed into several trees early Monday.

Eric L. Payton, 47, of Acworth, was taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital with serious injuries after the crash, which happened just before 1 a.m. on Dallas Acworth Highway, officials said.

Payton was driving a silver 2006 Infiniti FX35 just north of Picketts Ridge when, for reasons that are not clear, the car left its lane, according to Cobb County police spokeswoman Officer Shenise McDonald.

The Infiniti left the road, went over a concrete curb and became airborne, she said. It then went into a wooded area, hitting multiple trees before landing on its roof.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Cobb police at 770-499-3987.

About the Author

Asia Simone Burns is a watchdog reporter for the AJC. Burns was formerly an intern in AJC’s newsroom and now writes about crime. She is a graduate of Samford University and has previously reported for NPR and WABE, Atlanta’s NPR member station.

More Stories

Keep Reading

Eight people were killed in a multivehicle crash Monday afternoon on I-85 in Jackson County. A van transporting cats was among the vehicles involved, a rescue group said. (Furkids Animal Rescue and Shelters' Facebook post)

Credit: Furkids Animal Rescue and Shelters

Truck driver arrested after 8th victim found in wreckage of I-85 crash

A tractor-trailer struck the back of a Dodge van, causing the van to go up in flames. The crash involved 6 vehicles, one of which was a van transporting 37 cats to a shelter.

Empty pipe with wires caused I-75 shutdown in Cobb, police say

Drivers advised to avoid the area between Delk and Windy Hill roads, near Marietta.

Officials ID man killed in I-75 road rage shootout, hit-and-run crash

Authorities say the man — later identified as 21-year-old Damari Xavien Jordan — was struck by two other vehicles, including a police car.

The Latest

Atlanta police officer Myesha Banks (right) explains the timeline of events that happened Monday at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: AP

Officers recount moments leading up to man’s arrest at Atlanta airport

Officials ID man killed in I-75 road rage shootout, hit-and-run crash

Witnesses help pull Atlanta officer out of burning patrol vehicle after crash

Featured

Coca-Cola plans to sell a majority stake in Africa’s largest Coca-Cola bottler. (AJC FILE)

Coca-Cola strikes deal to sell majority stake in one of its biggest bottlers

Coca-Cola said Tuesday it will sell a majority stake in Africa’s largest Coca-Cola bottler. 

TSA warns Atlanta airport security delays could get worse during shutdown

As the government shutdown stretches into Day 21, Atlanta airport security delays could get worse, a TSA spokesperson confirmed.

Ga. teacher urged to resign after Charlie Kirk post is suing her employer

The high school English teacher says Oglethorpe County School System violated her First Amendment rights.