A fiery crash involving two vehicles left a man dead Wednesday afternoon on I-75 South in Marietta, authorities said.
The wreck occurred at the entrance ramp to Delk Road about 4:20 p.m., Marietta police spokesman Officer Chuck McPhilamy said.
According to police, a 2019 GMC Terrain SUV was traveling south when it collided with a 2019 Mercedes Sprinter van. The SUV then veered off the road and hit a concrete bridge pillar. Before Marietta police’s Selective Traffic Enforcement Program arrived after the wreck, the GMC caught fire, McPhilamy said. A Georgia State Patrol trooper removed the driver, Christopher Uptain, 42, of Atlanta, from the car and performed CPR until medical personnel arrived, GSP said.
Uptain was taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, McPhilamy said. The driver of the van was identified as 28-year-old Andres Galan-Marquez of Sandy Springs. Authorities have not released his condition.
The fatal crash shut down several lanes of I-75 as well as the Delk Road exit ramp, causing heavy delays for more than two hours during the evening commute. All lanes reopened about 6:45 p.m.
The wreck remains under investigation, and anyone with information is asked to call Marietta police at 770-794-5352.
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