Crossing Guard Killed: Charges Pending Against Lithonia Driver

MABLETON, GA — Criminal charges are pending against a Lithonia man who struck and killed a crossing guard in front of a Mableton school on Thursday morning, a Cobb County police spokesman said. The crossing guard, Edna Umeh, 64, of Austell, died at the scene, according to Sgt. Dana Pierce.

Witnesses and Cobb police say that Umeh was directing traffic shortly before 9 a.m. Thursday in front of Lindley Middle School on Veterans Memorial Highway. Lamonte Roosevelt Whitaker, 38, was driving westbound in a red 2016 Ford Focus when he swerved to the left, into the center turn lane, to avoid slowing traffic and struck Umeh.

Whitaker sustained minor injuries in the collision, the police said, and a Cobb fire crew had to cut off the top of his car to free him.

Several media outlets identified Whitaker as an Uber driver, reporting that his car had an Uber sticker in a window. A representative from the ride-sharing service confirmed Thursday to WSB-TV Channel 2 that Whitaker was an Uber driver, but did not have a passenger at the time of the accident

Students arriving for classes saw the incident and its aftermath, according to media reports. Grief counselors from the school and the Cobb school district came to the scene to help students, teachers and staff.

The police said that Whitaker was driving aggressively in a school zone marked with flashing lights, warning signs and a reduced speed limit of 25 mph. Anyone with information on this accident is asked to call the Cobb County police at (770) 499-3987.

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