ATHENS — Athens police have identified the man struck and killed in a pedestrian crash a week ago as 22-year-old Elmer Gualna-Mez of Athens. The Athens-Clarke County Police Department released his name Monday, days after asking the public for help identifying him.
According to police, Gualna-Mez was hit by a car late on the night of October 26 while crossing Highway 29 North at Highway 72.
Investigators say a 33-year-old Hull man, Sadiq Huda, was driving a 2017 Nissan Versa that hit Gualna-Mez. Officers arrested Huda and charged him with DUI-alcohol and first-degree vehicular homicide.
Gualna-Mez was last seen at a restaurant near where he was killed. Police released surveillance photos of him and a photo of the shirt he was wearing in the hopes that the public could help identify him. Police did not say what ultimately led to Gualna-Mez being identified, but said his family has since been notified.
This was the seventh fatal crash of 2025 in Athens-Clarke County, bringing the number of traffic deaths to eight so far this year.
