Child Dies in Marietta Crash After Driver Turns Left Into Oncoming Pickup at Macland Road and Ernest Barrett Parkway Wednesday Night

MARIETTA, GA — A child riding in a Kia died Wednesday night after the car’s driver turned left in front of an oncoming pickup truck at a Marietta intersection, according to police. The crash happened just after 7:30 p.m. at Macland Road and Ernest Barrett Parkway and left one other driver injured.

Cobb County police said the Kia was making a left turn when the Chevrolet Silverado struck its right side. The child was pronounced dead at the scene by the Cobb County Medical Examiner’s Office, and police have not released the child’s identity. Family members have been notified.

Police say both vehicles entered the intersection from opposite directions

Investigators said a red 2016 Kia Forte was traveling west on Macland Road when it began turning left onto Ernest Barrett Parkway. At the same time, a blue 2019 Chevrolet Silverado was heading east on Macland Road through the same intersection.

The vehicles collided at 7:29 p.m. The impact hit the passenger side of the Kia, according to police. The crash scene involved two drivers from Powder Springs: 39-year-old John Nur in the Kia and 25-year-old Gustavo Moctezuma in the pickup truck.

The details provided by investigators indicate a left-turn conflict at the intersection, though police have not said whether speed, traffic signals or other factors played a role. The case remains under review.

After the impact, the Kia spun north and the truck rolled onto its roof

Police said the collision sent the Kia spinning north before it came to rest in the northbound lanes of the intersection. The Silverado continued southeast, rolled over, and ended up on its roof.

The pickup came to rest partly in the eastbound lane of Macland Road and partly on the shoulder. The crash left a dramatic scene for investigators as both vehicles were disabled at the intersection and one vehicle had overturned.

Nur was not injured, according to police. The condition of the vehicles and their final positions are part of the crash reconstruction as investigators work to determine exactly how the impact unfolded.

Pickup driver taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries

Moctezuma was transported by ambulance to a hospital after the crash. Police said his injuries were not life-threatening.

No additional details were released about the extent of his injuries or how long he remained in the hospital. Authorities did not say whether anyone else was in either vehicle besides Nur, Moctezuma and the juvenile passenger.

For now, police are treating the collision as an active investigation and have not announced any charges or citations. The incident adds to the list of serious crashes officers must sort through when turning movements and through traffic meet at busy suburban intersections.

Medical examiner confirms death at the scene and family is notified

The Cobb County Medical Examiner’s Office pronounced the child dead at the scene. Police did not release the juvenile’s name, citing the victim’s age, and no further identifying information was made public.

Authorities said the family has been notified. That step typically follows confirmation of next-of-kin notification before a victim’s identity is released, if it is released at all.

The loss is the most serious result of the crash, even though the two adults involved survived. Police have not provided any information about the child’s age or relationship to the driver.

Cobb County police ask witnesses to call investigators

Cobb County Police said the crash is being investigated under case number 26070202. Officers are asking anyone with information about the collision to contact them at (770) 499-3987.

Investigators have not said what, if anything, they believe caused the driver to turn in front of the pickup. No details were released about whether traffic control devices, visibility, or road conditions may have contributed.

At this stage, the public information focuses on the sequence of the crash and the fatal outcome for the child passenger. Any further findings will come from the ongoing investigation.