A wreck involving a Pepsi truck that snarled traffic on three interstates and caused major headaches for Cobb County drivers Tuesday morning has finally been cleared.
It took crews nearly 10 hours to remove the wreckage after the tractor-trailer slammed into a barrier wall on I-285 South at Paces Ferry Road about 5 a.m., spilling cans of Dr Pepper onto the side of the interstate.
The driver of the big rig was taken to a hospital to be checked out, a Cobb County fire official said. He was out of the truck by the time authorities arrived on scene.
Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM
Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM
All southbound lanes were temporarily blocked and reopened just after 8 a.m., according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center. However, tough delays remained throughout the morning commute and into the afternoon as cleanup efforts continued.
The crash also impacted traffic on I-75 and I-575, the Traffic Center reported.
Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM
Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM
“The worst it’s been since early December on I-75 through Cobb County,” traffic reporter Ashley Frasca said. “All because of that truck.”
The WORST it's been since early December on I-75 through Cobb Co. all because of that truck that went through the wall I-285/sb at Paces Ferry. That scene still active but at least no lanes blocked on the north west part of I-285. #ATLtraffic 🚛 pic.twitter.com/fot4m2g0pu
— Ashley Frasca (@AshleyFrascaWSB) January 7, 2020
Those looking for traffic relief did not find it on the express lanes. The lanes were not a good alternate through Cobb County as “they are all jammed up due to the truck crash,” according to the Traffic Center.
Express Lanes are not a good alternate thru Cobb County this morning they are all jammed up due to the truck crash on I-285/sb (outer loop) at Paces Ferry Rd. pack you patience https://t.co/MhPvicYKPN #ATLtraffic pic.twitter.com/GlH4G4MkKG
— AJC WSB Traffic (@ajcwsbtraffic) January 7, 2020
Just before noon, more than six hours after the crash, cleanup was still underway on a right shoulder. Delays stretched back to the I-75 interchange into the afternoon as crews worked to remove the wrecked truck — and the soda — from the side of the interstate.
The wreck was finally cleared about 3:15 p.m, the Traffic Center reported.
. @MikeShieldsWSB is the first in Atlanta to report that this has cleared. Phew. #ATLtraffic https://t.co/GSxiFrPy8D
— WSB Radio (@wsbradio) January 7, 2020
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