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Police in Athens-Clarke County finally put a name to the man killed in a pedestrian accident on Highway 29 last month. The victim was 22-year-old Elmer Gualna-Mez, who died after being hit by a car on October 26th.
How Police Found Out Who He Was
For days after the crash, nobody knew who the victim was. He had no ID on him, and the police couldn’t figure out who he was right away. They turned to the public for help, sharing surveillance video from a restaurant where Gualna-Mez had been earlier that night. In the footage, he’s wearing a black hoodie and a shirt with a neon dinosaur on it.
The Athens-Clarke County Police Department posted the images online and asked people to share them. Someone in the community recognized him, which provided the police with the necessary lead to confirm his identity. It took almost a week, but they got there.
What Happened That Night
The pedestrian accident occurred at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 72 on a Sunday evening. Gualna-Mez was crossing Highway 29 when a 2017 Nissan Versa heading north struck him. He died right there at the scene.
Police arrested the driver at the scene—a 33-year-old man from Hull—and charged him with Homicide by Vehicle in the 1st Degree and DUI. Those are serious charges. The first-degree homicide charge means prosecutors believe he was driving recklessly or under the influence when he killed someone. He’s been in custody since that night and hasn’t been released.
Athens Has Had Seven Deaths This Year
This is the seventh person to die in a crash in Athens-Clarke County this year. Seven funerals. Seven families who continue to struggle with figuring out how to move forward. Some of these wrecks happened because someone was drunk. Others just happened—wrong place, wrong time. Either way, the people left behind are still asking why.
Police are still seeking anyone who witnessed the pedestrian accident to contact Officer Lauren Barnard at lauren.barnard@accgov.com or call 762-400-7222. Even small details can help build a case.
If your family is going through something like this after a pedestrian accident, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Southside Injury Law works with people who’ve been hurt in accidents or lost someone because of another driver’s mistakes. Call us at tel:(770) 703-6008 or tel:(800) 393-8595 for a free consultation and we’ll guide you through the next steps. You may also visit our contact page to schedule an appointment.
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Image credit – Athens-Clarke County Police Department