Clayton County officer assisting roadwork crew rear-ended on I-285

Several lanes of I-285 East were shut down at the I-75 interchange in Clayton County overnight after a police officer was rear-ended in a patrol vehicle while assisting a construction crew.

Several lanes of I-285 East were shut down at the I-75 interchange in Clayton County overnight after a police officer was rear-ended in a patrol vehicle while assisting a construction crew.

A Clayton County police officer was taken to the hospital after being rear-ended in a patrol vehicle on I-285 early Wednesday morning.

The officer, who was not identified, was working an off-duty job protecting a Georgia Department of Transportation construction crew in the eastbound lanes near the I-75 interchange, police told Channel 2 Action News. A Dodge Charger hit the officer’s vehicle from behind.

The officer was released from a local hospital later Wednesday morning, police said. The driver of the Dodge was cited, although a police spokeswoman did not elaborate on specific charges.

Several lanes of I-285 East were blocked overnight while police investigated the crash, the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center reported.