ATLANTA — Atlanta police said an 11-year-old boy was struck and killed on Memorial Drive in East Lake while trick-or-treating on Halloween night.
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Police said they responded to reports of a child hit by a car around 8:21 p.m. on the 2700 block of Memorial Drive. The child was taken to the hospital, where he died.
Family members have identified the boy as Devonne “DJ” David. He was a student at Kipp Ways Academy.
Police said that David was with a group of kids trick-or-treating near East Lake Park when he ran across the street and was struck .The driver remained on the scene and is not expected to face charges.
Channel 2′s Christian Jennings was at the scene, where Halloween candy was still scattered along the road.
Neighbors said the crosswalk where the accident happened isn’t safe and they’ve been concerned that a child would get hit for years. The pedestrian sign is blocked by a tree and there isn’t one on the other side of the road.
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Wesley Fulton lives across the street and saw David dart across the street.
“As soon as he got hit I screamed a little bit and ran out in the street to grab him and see if he was OK,” Fulton said. “We were talking to him like, “Come on, you got this. You’re going to be all right.’”
Fulton said David was bleeding but still conscious. Fulton and his sister held the boy’s hand, put a blanket over him and prayed over his injuries. The told the other children David was with they could go inside their house to keep warm.
David later died at the hospital.
“The driver cried on the ground for at least two hours,” Fulton said.
Fulton said he hopes changes are made.
“I almost would say we need an LED light at this location, because this is where everybody crosses,” Fulton said. “For many months and years I’ve been trying to get them to come replace the signs. Everybody’s mailbox is turned sideways because everybody’s mailbox got hit.”
The family has set up a GoFundMe account -- You can donate here.
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The investigation is ongoing.
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