Mugshot of Ryan Lisabeth
A white Atlanta motorist, allegedly high on drugs, hit three Black children Friday evening and killed one.
According to the Atlanta Police Department, Atlanta man Ryan Lisabeth was speeding down Joseph E. Boone Boulevard Friday evening and lost control of his car. He began driving on the wrong side of the road and then slammed into three small children on a sidewalk.
The three young boys — all of whom were Black — were on their way home from a convenience store.
Atlanta’s ABC affiliate, Channel 2, reported Monday that 9-year-old Isaiah Ward died from his injuries and was taken off life support Sunday afternoon. The young child was flung over the guardrail and sustained the worst injuries.
The other two, 11-year-old Roland Ward and 12-year-old Timothy Hood, are still in critical condition at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
Police reported that Lisabeth was high from an illegal substance, which may be the reason for the crash. That substance has not been identified to media. According to APD, the motorist refuse to let officers search his vehicle as well.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Lisabeth faces several charges, including three counts of serious injury by vehicle, reckless driving, driving on the wrong side of the road, and possession of a controlled substance.
Since the tragic accident, the community has rallied around the victims’ families.
“[The accident] is something we are taking really hard around here. This whole neighborhood,” said Danny McCall to 11 Alive.
McCall saw the young children minutes before the incident.
Deacon Robert Lee, minister at the Greater Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church, told 11 Alive that “the mother, she needs a lot of prayer, because I’m sure she’s going through a real tragic time.”
Isaiah’s uncle, Freddie Smith, told Channel 2 that his first reaction was to inflict pain on Lisabeth.
“I wanted him to suffer,” Smith told reporters.
Lisabeth has a history of drug and substance abuse. In the past four years, he has been arrested for possession of heroin, according to 11 Alive and police records. Lisabeth is scheduled for court today.
