A man was killed and two women were injured in a crash that blocked a major Cherokee County interstate for three hours Wednesday morning, officials said.
According to Cherokee sheriff’s office spokesman Capt. Jay Baker, a Kia Sportage driven by 24-year-old Kierra Holder of Riverdale hit the back of Robert Schroeder’s Toyota Tacoma just north of Riverstone Parkway on I-575. Witnesses told investigators the Sportage was traveling erratically before the crash, which occurred around 7 a.m.
Both drivers lost control, and their vehicles turned onto their sides and smashed into a guardrail, Baker said. Schroeder, 61, of Jasper, was thrown from the Tacoma. He was taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the sheriff’s office.
RED ALERT due to a Crash on I-575/sb at Riverstone Pkwy (exit 20) all lanes are shut down. Avoid and use Ball Ground Hwy as an alternate @CherokeeSO Stick w/@MarkArum @mckayWSB @AshleyFrascaWSB
— AJC WSB Traffic (@ajcwsbtraffic) September 16, 2020
for the latest @wsbradio @wsbtv https://t.co/j2xHL1ZFrc #ATLtraffic pic.twitter.com/B9IkzJUkiE
Holder and her passenger, 23-year-old Samira Bryant of Riverdale, were taken to the same hospital. Their conditions are not known.
During the investigation, southbound lanes of I-575 were closed, the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center reported. The interstate did not reopen until after 10 a.m.
Crash Investigation has Cleared on I-575/sb at Airport Dr. (exit 24) all lanes are now open. Traffic is recovering @CherokeeSOhttps://t.co/j2xHL1ZFrc #ATLtraffic pic.twitter.com/G9LBc7GfEk
— AJC WSB Traffic (@ajcwsbtraffic) September 16, 2020
No charges have been filed in the crash, which remains under investigation.