John Jefferson
Inset left: Sanda Fitts (Obituary). Inset right: London Best (Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The stretch of Georgia highway where Fitts was killed (Google Maps).
A septuagenarian Georgia woman was killed while crossing the street after paying respects to deceased family at a cemetery — allegedly by an Amazon delivery driver who went on with his route after the fatal crash.
Sandra Fitts, 79, died after being struck at an intersection near her former home, Peach State police say. Now, London Rozier Best, 25, stands accused of one count each of vehicular homicide in the first degree and hit-and-run resulting in death, according to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident occurred on Nov. 12, at around 6:30 p.m., just outside of Canton, a small city some 41 miles north-northwest of Atlanta.
Law enforcement received a call about a hit-and-run along Cumming Highway near the intersection of Jordan Lane.
Fitts died at the scene of the crime. Authorities later said she likely died instantly upon being hit by the Rivian Delivery vehicle.
“A deputy had spotted an Amazon truck turn down Bishop Drive while responding to the accident and called for assistance to the area to search for the vehicle,” the sheriff’s office said in a press release obtained by Atlanta-based radio station WSB.
Nearby, a member of the local police department in town on that very same street came across an Amazon delivery truck — evidencing damage said to be consistent with the hit-and-run that killed the woman.
“The investigation revealed that the Amazon truck in question was the vehicle that struck the pedestrian,” the press release continued.
Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Jay Baker said the woman and her husband recently sold their home but continued to visit the area due to the family plot at the nearby cemetery — where Fitts would visit with the memories of her deceased relatives and feed wild cats, according to Atlanta-based CBS affiliate WANF.
“It’s a very unfortunate situation,” Baker said. “It appears that he knows what happened and he actually continued to deliver packages in the area.”
Surviving family members say the loss is a reverberating tragedy.
The victim’s obituary remembers her fondly.
“Sandra’s passions in life included her marriage to her “Honey” for 60 years, her family outings with kids and grandkids, keeping a clean house and yard and her love of cats,” the tribute says. She is survived by several family members, including three grandchildren.
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The Amazon delivery vehicle, a Rivian Delivery, that allegedly killed Sanda Fitts (Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office).
Now, Best is looking at spending a substantial part of his life behind bars over the fatal traffic accident.
“Had he not left the scene it’s very likely that he wouldn’t been charged, certainly not with these felonies,” Baker told Atlanta-based ABC affiliate WSB-TV. “Because, I mean, it was dark and she was crossing the highway. So, if you’re ever in an accident, stop.”
Best also faces a series of relatively small-bore marijuana-related charges after a search of the Amazon delivery truck allegedly turned up drugs and drug paraphernalia, according to a sheriff’s office statement cited by People magazine.
Amazon, for its part, said the defendant will be suspended from driving for the company pending the results of the criminal investigation, according to a statement obtained by Atlanta-based Fox affiliate WAGA.
“We’re deeply saddened by this incident, and our thoughts are with the victim’s family and loved ones during this difficult time,” Amazon told the TV station. “We’ll support local police as they investigate.”
Best is currently being detained without bond.
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