One person was injured and three people were arrested Tuesday after a Rockdale County sheriff’s chase and multiple crashes in DeKalb County.

At least seven cars were involved in the crashes, which temporarily blocked two of the four westbound lanes on I-20 at Panola Road at the height of the morning commute.

“There were 3 hit-and-run accidents when a stolen vehicle pursued by Rockdale sheriff units struck these vehicles and continued,” DeKalb police Maj. Stephen Fore said. “One person received minor injuries as a result of one [of] the accidents and was transported to DeKalb Medical.”

The incident started with the stolen truck.

Corey James, who owns a black 2010 Cadillac Escalade, said someone took his truck during his daily trip to a local gas station.

“I went inside the Shell gas station to get a pop, and in less than 2 minutes or so came out,” James told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “The car was pulling off.”

He called 911 and told a dispatcher he saw the Escalade jump on I-20.

That’s when the Rockdale sheriff’s pursuit began.

Jawanda Murray was taking her husband to work and approaching a ramp at Panola Road when a car involved in the chase rear-ended hers.

Officials were attempting a PIT maneuver, a tactic that essentially involves bumping a vehicle in an attempt to stop it.

“It was out of control,” Murray said.

At the end of the chase, two guns were recovered and three people were arrested, a Rockdale sheriff’s official said.

All lanes have reopened, and I-20 was rapidly improving in DeKalb just before 9 a.m., according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

No other details were released.

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

About the Author

Keep Reading

The city of Atlanta will be able to keep its 81 polling locations open until 8 p.m. Tuesday after Monday's ruling by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Melynee Leftridge. (John Spink/AJC 2024)

Credit: John Spink/AJC

Featured

Helen Gilbert places flowers on her brother Eurie Martin’s grave at Camp Spring Baptist Church in Sandersville. Her brother died eight years ago. Three former Washington County deputies are accused of causing his death and are set to stand trial Monday. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez