Mitchell was struck by a speeding taxi while crossing Peachtree Street in Atlanta with her husband, sustaining critical injuries.
On the evening of August 11, 1949, Margaret Mitchell and her husband John Marsh were crossing Peachtree Street at its intersection with 13th Street in Atlanta, heading to see a movie, when Mitchell was struck by a speeding automobile driven by an off-duty taxi driver, Hugh Gravitt.
Witnesses reported that Gravitt had been driving erratically and at high speed. Mitchell suffered severe head and internal injuries in the collision. She was rushed to Grady Hospital, one of Atlanta's major medical facilities, where she remained in critical condition, never fully regaining consciousness in the days that followed.
The accident shocked the city of Atlanta and the literary world, as Mitchell—despite her immense fame—had continued to live a relatively modest and private life in her home city, often walking or being driven to local errands and entertainment much like any other resident. The sudden, violent nature of the incident stood in stark contrast to the celebrated legacy of the author who had captured the imagination of millions.
The event set in motion the final days of Mitchell's life, drawing international attention and an outpouring of concern as newspapers worldwide reported on the condition of the beloved author, until her death five days later.