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Atlanta, GA (May 26, 2026) – A woman died and several other people were seriously hurt on Tuesday afternoon, May 26, after a fleeing driver lost control near the Grant Park neighborhood and crashed into a gas station parking lot in Atlanta.
According to preliminary information from the Georgia State Patrol, the deadly collision began around 2:40 p.m. when a trooper attempted to stop a Hyundai Elantra traveling westbound on Interstate 20 for speeding. Investigators said the vehicle, driven by 26-year-old Fre’shun Tyai White of Marietta, was traveling about 90 mph in a 55 mph zone before speeding away.
Troopers stated White exited onto the Hill Street ramp at a high rate of speed and lost control of the Hyundai. Witnesses reported the car crossed Hill Street, became airborne, and crashed into a parked vehicle and a woman standing beside it inside a gas station parking lot. The woman, identified as 51-year-old Chatanna Ohiyesha Patterson, lost her life following the wreck.
White, a passenger in the Hyundai, and the driver of the parked vehicle were all taken to Grady Memorial Hospital with serious injuries. Investigators said White now faces charges including first-degree vehicular homicide and serious injury by vehicle.
Investigators continue to examine the deadly roadway collision and the sequence of events leading up to it. We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Chatanna Ohiyesha Patterson.
Why High-Speed Police Pursuit Crashes Can Become Catastrophic
Roadway crashes involving fleeing vehicles often become especially dangerous because drivers may disregard traffic laws, speed limits, and roadway conditions to avoid a traffic stop. At high speeds, even a small steering correction or a change in roadway conditions can lead to a loss of vehicle control.
Exit ramps and intersections can create additional hazards because vehicles may encounter tighter curves, traffic signals, parked cars, or pedestrians in close proximity. Investigators commonly review speed, driver behavior, traffic patterns, and roadway design after these collisions occur. Crashes involving vehicles leaving the roadway may also cause severe injuries to people outside nearby cars because they have little protection from a fast-moving vehicle entering parking lots or sidewalks.
