Multiple vehicles hit a man and killed him early Tuesday, shutting down U.S. 78 East in DeKalb County for nearly four hours.

The victim was 27-year-old Vilner Petiot, DeKalb police spokeswoman Shiera Campbell told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in an email Tuesday evening.

According to DeKalb police, the accident occurred just before 5:30 a.m. between I-285 and Brockett Road.

“The victim may have been in the middle of lane one or attempting to cross the highway,” Campbell said.

All drivers remained on the scene, she said.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing.

Traffic was brought to a halt until 9:13 a.m., the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center reported.

A pedestrian was hit and killed on U.S. 78 in DeKalb County, authorities said. JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM
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Both ramps from I-285 to U.S. 78 East were closed as a result of the accident. They have reopened as well.

In other news:

A local business sustained serious damage after a driver lost control and crashed early Monday morning.??

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Credit: Reed Williams/AJC