Illegal street stunt show sparks deadly inferno near Stone Mountain

STONE MOUNTAIN — A 19-year-old man is dead after a Georgia State Patrol vehicle crashed into a GMC pickup truck early Monday morning near Stone Mountain, following reports of illegal stunt driving in the area.

What happened: Troopers responded to reports of multiple vehicles performing illegal stunts, which had been moving between locations throughout the night. When troopers reached the area of Kilman Drive and Bibb Boulevard, several vehicles fled. One driver, in a white Chrysler 300, drove over a curb to get away, and troopers began chasing it.

While that chase was underway, a State Patrol K9 trooper’s vehicle struck a GMC pickup truck at the intersection of Mountain Industrial Boulevard and Hugh Howell Road. Troopers say they had seen that same pickup taking part in the stunt driving activity minutes before the crash. Both vehicles caught fire.

The trooper and victims: The trooper and his K9 got out through a window. The trooper then went to help the people inside the pickup. Anthony Angeles, a 19-year-old passenger in the truck, was taken to a hospital and later died. The driver, 20-year-old Emilio DeJesus of Conyers, was also taken to a hospital with injuries that are not considered life-threatening.

What’s next: The State Patrol’s crash reconstruction team is investigating both the collision and the events leading up to it. The agency’s Office of Professional Standards is also reviewing how troopers responded, including whether they followed department policies. The trooper involved in the crash has been placed on administrative leave while both reviews continue.