Tractor-trailer overturns on I-285 in DeKalb, killing driver
The driver of a tractor-trailer was killed when it overturned on I-285 East in DeKalb County at the top of Friday morning’s commute.
The single-vehicle crash was reported at around 6:45 a.m. on the outer loop of the Perimeter at Bouldercrest Road, or exit 51, according to DeKalb police. It shut down all eastbound lanes and caused major traffic delays for hours.
Police said the big rig left the road and overturned, leading to the driver having to be extricated. He was then rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His name was not released.
Lanes began reopening around 7:40 a.m. and were fully open by 9 a.m, but traffic remained jammed for at least another hour.
Authorities said the crash remains under investigation.
At the height of the delays, traffic on the eastbound Perimeter stretched to just before Jonesboro Road in Fulton County. Westbound traffic was also affected. Delays there extended to Flat Shoals Road.
The closure also caused jams on I-675, with backups that stretched to Anvilblock Road in Clayton County.
— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.
About the Author
Rosana Hughes is an award-winning bilingual (fluent in Spanish) journalist with a passion for explanatory public service journalism. She has been a reporter on the breaking news team since January 2022.
