Deadly multivehicle crash gridlocks I-285 for hours near Hartsfield-Jackson
One person was killed and four others were injured in a multivehicle wreck that brought I-285 to a standstill for three hours Friday morning outside the world’s busiest airport.
Authorities shut down the eastbound lanes before dawn to investigate the crash, which involved a Stockbridge police cruiser, a tractor-trailer and three other vehicles. A portion of the interstate remained closed until the investigation cleared shortly after 10 a.m., causing gridlock conditions getting around Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport for much of the morning commute.
College Park police were the first to respond to the I-285 and I-85 interchange at about 5:30 a.m. The driver of a Nissan Rogue, 45-year-old Lenin Jose Canelones, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Georgia State Patrol, which assisted with crash reconstruction.
College Park police confirmed to Channel 2 Action News four people were taken to hospitals. Their injuries were not considered life-threatening.
The Stockbridge officer was not among the injured, according to a spokesperson for that department.
For most of the commute, WSB traffic reporter Mike Shields was advising commuters “not to get anywhere near I-285 south of Langford Parkway.” The shutdown also impacted traffic on I-85 coming from the southern suburbs.
Lanes began reopening at 8:30 a.m.
— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.
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