Safety Efforts Under Way After Cobb Crossing Guard's Death

MABLETON, GA — After a 64-year-old school crossing guard was killed while directing traffic outside a Cobb County middle school, transportation, education and law-enforcement officials are looking to improve safety on what's being called a dangerous stretch of highway.

The Cobb County Department of Transportation has conducted a 3.5-mile, six-hour safety audit of Veterans Memorial Highway near Lindley Middle School in Mableton. That's where Ednah Umeh, 64, was struck and killed by a driver on Nov. 30.

Lamonte Whitaker, 38, of Lithonia, remains in jail, charged with vehicular homicide and reckless driving in the case. According to police, Whitaker swerved to avoid slowing traffic and struck Umeh in the intersection in front of the school. Whitaker was an Uber driver, but did not have a passenger at the time.

For the audit, the transportation department was joined by representatives from Cobb County Police, the Georgia Department of Transportation, Lindley Middle School, the county Board of Education and other agencies.

A report based on the audit, which will include potential solutions to dangerous driving on the highway, is expected to be complete by the end of February, according to Cobb DOT Director Jim Wilgus. According to county officials, possible remedies include roadway medians and pedestrian crosswalks with beacons being added in the area.

"The safety of motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists are a fundamental driver of everything we do at Cobb County DOT," Wilgus said.

On Friday, Cobb County Commissioner Lisa Cupid met with a group of Lindley Middle School students about the effort.

"The death of Lindley Middle School Crossing Guard Edna Ume was a tragic event in our community," Cupid said. "While we cannot reverse what took place that day, I am grateful for the efforts of several partners to make Veterans Memorial safer."

Since Ume's death, Cobb County Police have stepped up patrols along Veterans Memorial Highway to try to curb speeding. More school resource officers have been deployed to cover school zones during drop-off and pickup times and state Rep. Erica Thomas has introduced legislation that would strengthen the use of speed radar in school zones.

Also, according to Cupid, the student council of Lindley Middle School's sixth-grade academy organized a workshop addressing traffic and pedestrian safety.

"I am prayerful that the impact of these collective efforts will improve safety for all who walk and drive along Veterans Memorial Highway, especially at Lindley Middle School," Cupid said.

The intersection where Ume was killed had a flashing warning light, school-zone warning signs and a reduced speed limit of 25 m.p.h. Family and friends held a vigil and safety walk in Umeh's memory last month.

Photos courtesy Cobb County Government