By Joe Johnson
A University of Georgia student was struck and killed Saturday by a hit-and-run driver in downtown Athens.
According to Athens-Clarke County police, 20-year-old Ariana Zarse was struck by a Honda Accord at about 12:12 a.m. while she was crossing East Broad Street just east of Foundry Street.
The Honda fled the scene, police said, and Zarse was transported by ambulance to the hospital, where she died.
A friend that accompanied Zarse was not injured.
Investigators located the car involved in the incident, and on Sunday they continued attempts to determine who was driving it at the time of the fatal collision.
According to her Facebook profile, Zarse was a native of Austin, TX and was expected to graduate from UGA in 2023.
Police asked for anyone with information regarding the incident to contact Officer First Class Dustin Tilley at (762) 400-7355 or dustin.tilley@accgov.com.
The Incident involved the 20th traffic fatality this year in Athens-Clarke County.
Passing the hands free law has done nothing when it doesn't get enforced. The other problem is less police on the road and even less traffic enforcement. I know a few from Athens and they were told to avoid pulling people over ever since Floyd. That has changed how a lot of people have been driving around Athens and the rest of the US. Criminals no longer fear the police and it shows.
West Broad Street doesn't cross, and is nowhere near, Foundry Street. Lazy reporting. Do better.
🙏🏽🙏🏽
Why so many here in Athens? 20 fatalities? This does NOT happen in other college towns; e.g., Iowa City ~ not even when there’s a home game!