A suspended license. Two active arrest warrants. A history of incarceration.
Authorities say the man behind the wheel of a deadly I-20 crash had all three when he fled a Georgia State Trooper at high speeds. The pursuit ended in a 10-vehicle crash that killed him and an innocent 7-month-old girl.
The Georgia Department of Public Safety said Sunday on Facebook:
The Georgia Department of Public Safety extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Kalayia Tolbert, an infant who tragically lost her life following a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 20. The loss of a child is heartbreaking, and our thoughts remain with her family as they face an unimaginable tragedy. We also recognize the physical and emotional impact this incident has had on the other children, motorists, families, and first responders involved.
The incident began October 10, 2026, at 11:59 pm, when a Georgia State Patrol Trooper observed an Audi sedan traveling approximately 110 mph in a posted 60 mph zone on Interstate 20. The vehicle was operating on the darkened interstate without headlights illuminated and was recklessly weaving through traffic. When the Trooper activated his emergency equipment to perform a traffic stop, the driver briefly pulled onto the shoulder before rapidly accelerating away in an attempt to evade the Trooper, initiating a pursuit.
The driver continued eastbound on Interstate 20 at a high rate of speed, exiting at Candler Road before returning to the interstate. The pursuit continued until the driver exited at Wesley Chapel Road, where he lost control of the vehicle, struck a guardrail, and collided with multiple vehicles. A total of 10 vehicles were involved in the crash.
Georgia State Patrol Troopers immediately began rendering medical assistance to those injured. Three infants traveling in one of the vehicles struck were transported to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Tragically, Kalayia Tolbert, age 7 months, succumbed to her injuries. The driver of the fleeing vehicle, identified as Cameron Gabriel Kemp, age 33 of Covington, was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he also died from his injuries.
Investigators subsequently determined that Kemp was operating the vehicle with a suspended driver’s license and had two active arrest warrants, including one for a probation violation and another for failure to appear in court. He also had a prior incarceration with the Georgia Department of Corrections for aggravated battery. The Georgia State Patrol’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team responded to investigate the crash.
The Georgia Department of Public Safety recognizes that incidents involving pursuits, particularly those resulting in the loss of innocent life, raise serious concerns within the communities we serve. Our troopers are entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the public, enforcing the law, and addressing dangerous driving behaviors that threaten the safety of others. A motorist traveling at extreme speeds, without headlights on dark roadways, and recklessly maneuvering through traffic presents an immediate danger to everyone sharing the roadway.
No traffic violation, attempted arrest, or enforcement action diminishes the tragedy of a child losing her life. Our responsibility now is to ensure that the circumstances surrounding this incident are thoroughly investigated while continuing to support those affected. Above all, we ask the public to keep Kalayia Tolbert’s family, and everyone impacted by this tragedy in their thoughts.
