Relatives say 30-year-old Alexis Wallace died Oct. 14 when a speeding car struck her near Lithonia High School.
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — The family of Alexis “Nicole” Wallace is calling for accountability after the 30-year-old was killed Oct. 14 when a speeding driver hit her car as she pulled out of her subdivision on Phillips Road near Lithonia High School, according to relatives.
Wallace, who was on her way to work, died after another vehicle slammed into the driver’s side of her car along a residential stretch where the posted limit is 25 mph. Her mother, Lula Wallace, said the crash has left the family grieving through the holiday season while they wait for word on potential charges. DeKalb County police have been contacted for updates, and the family says they want road safety changes near the school and their neighborhood. The case remains under review, according to relatives, who say they were told the striking vehicle was traveling far above the limit.
Relatives said Wallace had just turned onto Phillips Road when a car barreled into the intersection and T-boned her vehicle. The collision happened in the morning as she left for work from the subdivision entrance across from campus. “According to what I’ve been told, they measured the skid marks. The car was going an excess of 85 mph in a 25 mph zone,” her mother, Lula Wallace, said. She added that the impact left little chance of survival. The family gathered this week and described an empty seat at Thanksgiving, recalling flight plans they say she intended to keep to visit loved ones.
DeKalb County officials have not announced charges, and police have not released the other driver’s name. The department is reviewing evidence from the scene, including measurements and roadway markings, family members said. The crash happened near Lithonia High School along Phillips Road, an area where residents often report high speeds through neighborhood entrances. The family identified the victim as Alexis Wallace, also known as Nicole, and said she was 30. They said she was pulling from the subdivision when the approaching car struck her driver’s side. Whether impairment or distraction played a role is unknown. Officials have not detailed the other driver’s condition.
Pedestrian and traffic safety have drawn growing attention in DeKalb County, where advocates have cited speeding and wide, fast corridors near schools and bus routes. Neighborhoods along corridors such as Covington Highway and Memorial Drive have seen severe crashes in recent years, according to public discussions and nonprofit reports. Residents near Lithonia High School say they have asked for more enforcement and traffic calming around school dismissal and during morning commutes. Wallace’s relatives say Phillips Road can feel like a cut-through for drivers trying to bypass congestion on nearby arterials.
Police are expected to complete investigative reports and forward findings to prosecutors to determine whether charges are warranted. The family said they have requested updates from investigators and are seeking a timeline for next steps. Any charging decisions, if made, would be announced by county authorities. No court hearings have been set publicly in this case. Officials typically evaluate speed calculations, witness statements and crash reconstruction data before filing counts in fatal collisions.
On Phillips Road this week, neighbors placed flowers near the subdivision entrance and paused at the school zone sign, where classes will resume after the holiday break. “Something has to be done. Her death can’t be in vain,” Lula Wallace said. “Someone has to take this seriously.” Friends described Wallace as dependable and upbeat on early shifts. Traffic quieted in the evening, but residents said bursts of speeding return with the morning rush.
As of Friday, the investigation remained open, with the family awaiting word from DeKalb County police on potential charges and any roadway changes under consideration. Officials had not provided a timetable for a public update.
Author note: Last updated November 28, 2025.