Three drivers ended up in the hospital, one of them airlifted with life-threatening injuries, after a chain-reaction crash shut down Roosevelt Highway in both directions for about four hours on Monday afternoon. Troopers believe the collision began when a northbound GMC Yukon crossed into the southbound lanes and slammed head-on into a Ford Transit van.
Troopers stationed in Forest Park responded to the scene at around 2:43 p.m. Monday, according to Atlanta News First. Investigators say the Yukon, driven by a 41-year-old man, veered into the oncoming lanes and struck the van head-on.
Van Driver Airlifted After Second Impact
The initial collision sent the Transit van, driven by a 49-year-old man, into the northbound lanes, where a Cadillac Escalade driven by a 53-year-old man struck it, according to the station's report. The van's driver was airlifted to the hospital with life-threatening injuries; the other two drivers were taken by ambulance with serious injuries.
As of publication, no charges had been announced, and the investigation into how the three vehicles collided was ongoing, according to Atlanta News First.
What Georgia crash data shows
According to Georgia Traffic Safety Facts, 45% of fatal crashes in 2023 involved a vehicle leaving the roadway across an edge line or center line; a centerline crossing can lead to a head-on collision when a vehicle enters opposing traffic. That figure describes roadway departures, not the share of crashes that were head-on, so it does not compare head-on crashes with other crash types.
