Pedestrians Die After Hit On Ga. 400 Shoulder: Sheriff's Office

FORSYTH COUNTY, GA — A man and woman died last week after they were hit by a car when they were searching for a lost item along the side of Ga. 400.

At 2:07 a.m. on Friday, the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call to Ga. 400 northbound near Settingdown Road, about a crash between a car and two pedestrians.

The investigation has determined a 2001 GMC Sonoma, driven by Michael Stembridge, 52, of Cleveland, Georgia, was traveling north in the left lane of Ga. 400 near Settingdown Road. A male and female had stopped their vehicles in the northbound emergency lane and left their cars to look for a lost item on or near the roadway. Both pedestrians were dressed in dark clothing, deputies said.

Due to the dark conditions, the driver did not see the first pedestrian. Evidence shows the driver attempted to avoid the accident, but was unable to avoid striking the first pedestrian, the Sheriff's Office said.

That pedestrian was found to have been standing in the left northbound lane of Ga. 400. As the vehicle veered to the left in an attempt to avoid the first pedestrian in the roadway, the second pedestrian, who was on the left edge of the roadway, was also struck.

According to Deputy First Class Michael Hobbs, Traffic Investigator with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, Michael Sweat, 44, of Dawsonville, Georgia and Kayla Howard, 25, of Dahlonega, Georgia, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Impairment or distraction are not considered as preliminary factors in the crash. There are no charges pending at this time.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Specialist Unit.