DEKALB COUNTY, GA — October 10, 2026 Seven-month-old Kalayia Tolbert died following a 10-vehicle collision on Interstate 20 in DeKalb County late Friday night, according to the Georgia State Patrol (GSP).
Investigators reported that the collision occurred after a driver allegedly attempted to evade a state trooper while traveling at a high rate of speed.
According to the GSP, a trooper observed an Audi sedan traveling approximately 110 mph in a posted 60-mph zone shortly before midnight. The vehicle was reportedly operating without its headlights illuminated.
The driver initially moved onto the highway shoulder but subsequently accelerated and continued driving away from the trooper.
Authorities said the Audi traveled eastbound on Interstate 20, exited at Candler Road, returned to the interstate, and later left the highway at Wesley Chapel Road. The vehicle then struck a guardrail before colliding with traffic traveling in the opposite direction.
The resulting chain of collisions involved 10 vehicles.
Kalayia Tolbert was one of three infants inside a vehicle struck during the incident. She was transported to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where she later died from her injuries. The other two infants were also taken to the same hospital for treatment.
The 33-year-old man driving the Audi, a resident of Covington, was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Authorities reported that his driver’s license was suspended and that two active arrest warrants had been issued against him for a probation violation and failure to appear in court.
State troopers provided medical assistance to several other injured motorists at the scene.
The Georgia State Patrol’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team is investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
