ROME, Floyd County, GA, Sept. 23, 2026 — A 70-year-old woman died Tuesday morning, September 22, after she was struck by a car on Shorter Avenue in Rome. The Rome Police Department said she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The crash happened just before 7 a.m. in the 1900 block of Shorter Avenue, according to police. Officers said a white car struck a pedestrian, who was later identified as a woman of 70 from Rome.
The department's Accident Investigation Team and Traffic Unit responded to process the scene, and police reported periodic traffic delays along Shorter Avenue Tuesday morning while the work continued. Police had initially asked the public for help identifying Fincher's next of kin on behalf of the Floyd County Coroner's Office; by Tuesday afternoon, they confirmed her family had been located.
Police have not released what led to the crash or said whether the driver will face charges. The driver of the white car has not been identified publicly. The investigation remains open.
Our condolences go out to the family and friends of the deceased.
How Investigators Piece Together a Fatal Pedestrian Crash
Work at the scene of a deadly pedestrian crash starts before the road reopens. Officers measure skid marks, photograph the vehicle and the area, and look for anything that shows speed, position, or sight lines at the moment of impact. That is why a stretch of road stays closed or backed up for hours after a crash like this one.
Investigators also wait to release certain details on purpose. A name is typically held until a coroner's office or family can be notified, which can take hours or longer if next of kin has to be tracked down, as happened in this case. A full account of fault, or any decision on charges, usually waits on a completed crash reconstruction report, which pulls together physical evidence, witness statements, and sometimes data pulled from the vehicle itself.
Toxicology results, when they are needed, add more time. Labs processing blood or tissue samples for a coroner's office can take several weeks to return results, and a department will generally not comment on impairment until those results are final. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 77 percent of pedestrian fatalities occurred in the dark in 2023, a pattern investigators routinely check against lighting and visibility conditions at the scene of any pedestrian crash.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a pedestrian do immediately after being hit by a car?
Call 911 even if injuries seem minor, since some injuries such as internal bleeding or concussion symptoms do not show up right away. Stay as still as possible until paramedics arrive and get checked out at a hospital or urgent care the same day.
Who has the right of way at a crosswalk?
In Georgia and most states, a pedestrian in a marked or unmarked crosswalk generally has the right of way once they've entered it, though drivers and walkers both share responsibility for watching traffic before crossing.
What can drivers do to avoid hitting a pedestrian?
Slowing down near intersections and crosswalks, scanning both sides of the road before turning, and avoiding phone use behind the wheel all cut down on the seconds a driver needs to react to someone in the roadway.
What injuries are most common in pedestrian crashes?
Broken bones, head trauma, and spinal injuries are common because a pedestrian has no protection against a vehicle's impact. Severity generally depends on the vehicle's speed and where on the body the impact occurs.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Crash in Rome, GA
Anyone who witnesses a pedestrian crash should call 911 right away and avoid moving an injured person unless there's an immediate danger, like fire or oncoming traffic. If you're a bystander, note what you saw, including the direction vehicles were traveling and any traffic signals, since that information helps investigators later.
Family members waiting on information after a crash like this should expect some delay before police release full details. Reports, toxicology results, and any charging decisions often take weeks. Contacting the coroner's office or the investigating department directly is usually the most reliable way to get updates as they become available.
