CBS Atlanta 46Tough Questions about dangerous DeKalb street

Residents who live along Flat Shoals Road in DeKalb County said more crosswalks and stoplights are needed along the busy stretch.

"When I was trying to cross over, the car actually came in the middle with me," said Derek Williams, who walks in the area.  "It didn't look like he was going to stop so that scared me right there."

Residents said they are becoming increasingly concerned about the dangers of crossing the four-lane highway after a driver struck and killed a 7-year-old boy on New Year's Day.

Police say Zederick Carr, a second-grader at Flat Shoals Elementary, pulled away and stepped into traffic on the road.

Flat Shoals Road is State Route 155 and is the responsibility of the Georgia Department of Transportation. GDOT officials did not return calls from CBS Atlanta News.

"Public safety is a primary concern all over DeKalb," said county spokesman Burke Brennan.  "Certainly, we would like all of our roadways to be safe, and we study them constantly." 

Brennan said while the state is the agency in charge of the roadway, the county would work with GDOT if it was determined that safety improvements were necessary.

Family and friends of Carr comforted each other throughout the day on Monday at the family's home in the Serenade Apartment Complex.

"It was his life that got stolen," said Carr's grandmother Cheryl Isaac. "They stole his life.  Do you understand?  And it hurts so bad." 

The family told CBS Atlanta that the street in front of their apartment complex has always been dangerous. There is heavy traffic and no stoplight or crosswalk.

"It's very dangerous, very dangerous," said Isaac. "You would think they would have a crosswalk if you have a plaza right across the street and apartments right here. 

DeKalb County police say the accident remained under investigation, and no charges were immediately filed.

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