Driver killed by falling tree on I-20 identified

A tree fell onto a man’s truck and killed him while he was driving on I-20 in Douglas County on Sept. 26, officials said.

He was identified Wednesday as Thomas Hawkins, 69, of Jonesboro, the Douglasville Police Department said.

Hawkins was traveling west in a pickup about 10:30 a.m. when the tree fell, Douglasville police Lt. Mark Edwards told AJC.com. He was found dead when officers arrived on the scene. No other vehicles were affected.

***PRESS RELEASE***

At approximately 10:30 this morning, Douglas County 911 received multiple calls regarding a tree falling on a pickup truck which was travelling west bound on I-20 just before Fairburn Road.... https://t.co/JQEDAq23T6
— Douglasville Police (@Douglasville_PD) September 26, 2018

The tree, likely a pine tree, fell directly across the cab of the truck, Edwards said.

One westbound lane and two eastbound lanes were closed while authorities investigated. The scene was cleared about 12:30 p.m.

TRAVEL ADVISORY: Douglas Co.: Fatality Crash Cleared: I-20/eb/wb at Fairburn Rd./SR-92; (Exit 37); All Lanes are Now Open; delays remain; https://t.co/MhPvicYKPN; #ATLTraffic pic.twitter.com/W9DCIstTUB
— AJC WSB Traffic (@ajcwsbtraffic) September 26, 2018

» For updated traffic information, listen to News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB and follow @ajcwsbtraffic on Twitter.

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