A tragic multi-vehicle collision on Interstate 85 in DeKalb County has claimed the life of one individual and left three others injured. According to FOX 5, the incident occurred around 3:40 a.m. in the northbound lanes between Shallowford Road and Chamblee Tucker Road. Initial reports of a pedestrian hit on the interstate were what brought police to the scene, although it remains uncertain if a pedestrian was actually involved.
Caught in the early hours of the morning, the I-85 was forced to shut down all its northbound lanes for an hour due to the crash, with one lane subsequently reopening. Atlanta News First reports that the sequence of events began with a single-car crash that left the vehicle damaged in the right lane. After a second driver stopped to render aid, both were struck by a third vehicle, followed by a collision involving a fourth car.
As per the investigation shared by DeKalb County Police, the driver of the first car succumbed to their injuries at the scene. Commuters faced significant delays and were advised to consider Buford Highway as an alternate route. The three surviving individuals involved in the crash sustained various degrees of injury; one is reportedly in critical condition. The names of the victims, along with the conditions of the injured, have not been released pending notification of next of kin and continuation of the investigation.
"The first driver died from their injuries at the scene, and the driver who stopped to help was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition," confirmed DeKalb County Police, as follows the crash's investigation by the Atlanta News First report. Details surrounding the cause of the multi-car pileup are still unclear as the crash remains under rigorous examination. Meanwhile, authorities have since cleared the site, and all lanes have been reopened to the public.
