Tragic Death on Peachtree Street: Pradeep Sood’s Family Calls for Action

On February 11, 2025, a devastating incident claimed the life of Pradeep Sood, a 67-year-old downtown employee, on Peachtree Street in Atlanta, Georgia. Sood was struck by a vehicle while crossing near the Peachtree Street MARTA station, within a faded crosswalk that surveillance footage captured as the site of the collision. Despite being rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital, he succumbed to his injuries. The Atlanta Police Department deemed Sood at fault, yet his family and city officials point to the outdated and confusing infrastructure as a key factor in the tragedy. In response, the Atlanta Department of Transportation (ATLDOT) has pledged to remove the crosswalk, inactive since 2023, and is exploring long-term safety enhancements aligned with the city’s Vision Zero goal to eliminate traffic fatalities by 2040.

The incident has sparked widespread concern over pedestrian safety in Atlanta’s bustling downtown core. Sood’s daughter, Puja Jabbour, voiced the family’s anguish, stating, “The city has to step up and do something,” highlighting the daily risks faced by hundreds crossing the same spot. City Councilmember Amir Farokhi called the death “tragic and preventable,” urging a reevaluation of Peachtree Street’s design to prioritize pedestrian-friendly spaces. As ATLDOT prepares to erase the faded markings and resurface the street by late 2025, the incident underscores the urgent need for clear, well-maintained infrastructure to protect residents and visitors alike in one of Atlanta’s most iconic corridors.