4th person killed while riding a scooter in metro Atlanta

EAST POINT, Ga. — Police say a man on a scooter was killed in East Point early Tuesday morning. The victim is the fourth person to die in a scooter-related accident in Atlanta.

Police told Channel 2's Tom Jones that Quienterry McGriff was riding the e-scooter around 6:30 a.m. at Semmes Street and Norman Berry Drive.

Police said McGriff was traveling southbound when he ran a red light and hit an oil truck.

Officers said a driver told them he saw McGriff run the red light. The truck driver said he saw McGriff coming toward him but couldn't stop in time.

"He was unable to stop in time," Capt. Allyn Glover, with East Point police, said. "(He) swerved and the scooter hit the passenger side of the vehicle."

Police said McGriff was homeless. The driver stayed at the scene and won't face any charges.

McGriff is the fourth person to die while riding a scooter in metro Atlanta.

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Amber Ford, 34, was riding an e-scooter July 27 on 14th Street near Crescent Avenue when she was struck by a car, which left the scene. She was later taken off life support.

Brad Alexander, 37, was hit and killed by a CobbLinc bus near the Arts Center MARTA station as he headed home from an Atlanta United game July 14.

In May, 20-year-old Eric Amis, Jr. was hit and killed near the West Lake MARTA station.

Jones talked to neighbors in East Point about this latest accident.

"He should be old enough to know that red means stop, green means go," scooter rider Khyree Taylor said. "I mean, it's dangerous out here in these streets ... If you're not careful, you can easily get killed like this."

Neighbor Michael Corporal said he would never cross the busy street while the light is red.

"They just can't be running through a light. It is very, very dangerous," Corporal said.

Neighbors told Thomas they don't think that e-scooters are going anywhere so metro Atlanta residents are going to have to find a way to co-exist with them safely.

"As people ditch cars, I think you're going to see more and more e-scooter usage," Ben Felker said. "It seems to me that there's not a good middle ground yet."

Last week, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms ordered that no more permits would be issued for new scooters in the city.

Cox Media Group