A man running from police was hit by a tractor-trailer and killed on I-75 in Henry County on Thursday morning, authorities said.
The Georgia State Patrol arrived on the scene before 5 a.m., spokeswoman Tracey Watson told AJC.com.
“During the investigation, it was determined that the pedestrian had fled on foot from Locust Grove police during a traffic stop at approximately 1:45 a.m.,” she said in a statement. “They lost contact with him during the foot pursuit, but were able to identify him as the person that fled earlier.”
The driver of the tractor-trailer and a witness to the crash told traffic investigators the man ran onto I-75 from a wooded median. The tractor-trailer was in the middle lane at the time of impact, Watson said.
Locust Grove police said the man, identified as Brian Sprouse, 23, of Fayetteville, by the Henry County deputy coroner, was stopped for a minor traffic violation.
“As soon as the traffic stop was initiated, the driver got out, ran into a woodline and disappeared,” police Capt. M. Long said.
A search of the area was unsuccessful, and the man’s vehicle was towed.
“It wasn’t until several hours later ... the driver decided to try and cross the interstate,” Long said.
The investigation shut down all northbound lanes near Bill Gardner Parkway for hours during the morning rush. The lanes reopened about 8 a.m.
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