Lyft driver risks life to try to save driver involved in fiery crash, police say

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A deadly head-on crash shut down a busy DeKalb County road near an elementary school and a college on Thursday.

Officers said it was a Lyft driver that attempted to pull the driver from the burning car but the flames were too intense.

The crash happened at Panthersville Road and Oakvale Drive around 1:45 a.m. Thursday. The area is near Oak View Elementary School and Georgia State University Perimeter College.

“One vehicle was going northbound and one was going southbound, (and ended in a) head-on collision,” said DeKalb County Police Sgt. Howard Jenkins.

Jenkins said the driver of a Dodge Challenger crossed over the center lane and smashed into a Honda Accord.

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“One of the vehicles spun out and burst into flames. That driver is deceased,” Jenkins said.

It was the Dodge that caught on fire. A witness who saw the fiery crash stopped to help.

“We had a Lyft driver that stopped and attempted to help, but the victim was in flames,” Jenkins said.

Police said the woman in the other car walked away with minor injuries.

“It's very surprising that at least one person survived,” Jenkins said.

Police have not identified the driver who died but did say he was 24 years old.

Cox Media Group