Donald Marshall Killed in Columbus Pedestrian Accident
The 62-year-old man suffered fatal injuries after being struck by a vehicle on Cusseta Road
Donald Marshall, 62, was killed in a pedestrian crash on Cusseta Road on Wednesday, according to the Columbus Police Department.
A vehicle struck the man in the 2700 block at approximately 10 p.m. The Motor Squad unit is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision.
Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan pronounced Marshall dead at the scene. He determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma.
Authorities have not released information regarding the driver involved. Police have not said if any criminal charges are pending.
According to the Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety, the state recorded 310 pedestrian deaths in 2023, with 81% occurring in dark lighting conditions.
The sudden loss of a family member in a pedestrian collision leaves relatives searching for answers while navigating a complex legal process. While the Columbus Police Department continues its investigation, independent legal professionals can help secure vital evidence for the grieving family.
Why did the collision occur on Cusseta Road?
Investigators will examine lighting conditions, vehicle speed, and driver attention in the 2700 block to determine liability.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, said, "Fatal pedestrian crashes often happen after dark, when speeding drivers fail to notice someone crossing until moving far too fast to stop safely. Poor lighting and rushed decisions can turn an ordinary roadway into deadly ground within seconds."
"Preserving traffic camera footage and reconstructing vehicle speed quickly becomes essential, and an attorney often steps in early to secure that evidence before crucial footage gets erased," added Bond, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News.
Georgia wrongful death statute
Under O.C.G.A. § 51-4-1, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. Georgia applies modified comparative fault (50% bar). The statute of limitations is 2 years.
Recoverable damages focus on the full value of the life of the decedent, including both economic and intangible losses.
"Investigating a fatal pedestrian crash often means piecing together scattered details before memories fade and evidence disappears from a roadway. Surveillance footage, event data recorders, and witness accounts each reveal part of a larger story about what actually unfolded in those final seconds," noted Stefano Formica, a national legal analyst for Accident News and of counsel at Bond Legal.
"Coordinating those pieces into a clear timeline takes patience and experience, and an attorney frequently leads that process from the earliest days."