For 90 minutes during the Wednesday evening commute, motorists in Sandy Springs were stranded on I-285 after a truck carrying 40,000 pounds of frozen chicken overturned in the eastbound lanes.
The crash, which blocked the inner loop before the New Northside Drive exit, involved at least six other vehicles, including a van that flipped on its side into the truck’s spilled contents, Sandy Springs police said.
Police said the truck’s driver was at fault in the wreck that started after they hit a car while following too closely.
“I do not have the specifics of each vehicle, but obviously several were overturned,” police added.
The eastbound lanes were blocked for cleanup at about 6:10 p.m. and did not fully reopen until around 9:25 p.m., causing significant delays in both directions on I-285 and jamming traffic on I-75. Traffic on Ga. 400 was also impacted, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.
According to officials, fuel also leaked onto the interstate. No other details were released, but officials said that only minor injuries were reported. The victims were taken to the hospital.
It’s no secret that traffic can be horrendous in and around Atlanta, and residents are used to spending hours stuck on the interstates as officials work to investigate and clear disruptions.
From fiery bridges, to runaway animals — including an escaped tiger and dozens of cows — and even a cash grab free-for-all after an armored truck’s doors flew open in 2019 and an estimated $175,000 in loose bills rained down on I-285, motorists can never be quite sure what they will encounter during commutes.
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