A 31-year-old man was killed early Monday when the car he was driving slammed into a tractor-trailer on I-20 in DeKalb County, authorities said.

DeKalb police Major S.R. Fore said the wreck happened about 1:45 a.m. on I-20 westbound just west of Evans Mill Road.

He said the tractor-trailer was merging back onto the interstate from the right shoulder when a Ford Focus approached in the center lane.

“The Ford drifted from the center lane into the right lane and struck the rear of the tractor-trailer, pinning the victim inside the vehicle,” Fore told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in an email.

He said the Ford driver, whose name has not been released, died at the scene.

All westbound lanes of I-20 were shut down for nearly four hours, but reopened about 5:30 a.m.

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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