9 vehicles involved in tractor-trailer crash that shut down I-285 for hours

A crash blocked the northbound lanes of I-285 near Cascade Road on Friday morning.

Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

A crash blocked the northbound lanes of I-285 near Cascade Road on Friday morning.

A tractor-trailer’s tire blew out Friday, causing a nine-vehicle crash that shut down the northbound lanes of I-285 near Cascade Road in southwest Atlanta for hours, according to authorities.

The Georgia State Patrol said Alvontae Bell, 24, of East Dublin, was driving the tractor-trailer when the front driver’s-side tire failed around 8:15 a.m. The malfunction caused the vehicle to steer left into the median and hit a concrete barrier, authorities said.

The crash involving a tractor-trailer caused heavy delays on I-285 near Cascade Road.

Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

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Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

The truck was carrying a Conex box loaded with granite. As Bell drove under the Benjamin E. Mays overpass, the box hit the bridge pillar and the granite spilled out, covering all lanes of I-285, the GSP said.

The debris prompted police to shut down the interstate north of the Cascade Road exit. The closure caused backups on the inner loop to Langford Parkway. Lanes started reopening about 10:30 a.m., but there were still heavy delays in the area after 11 a.m.

The GSP said four cars were damaged, while five vehicles traveling south suffered minor damage from the debris that scattered across the road.

According to the GSP, five people complained of injuries, and two of them were taken to a hospital. Bell, who was also injured, was taken to Atlanta Medical Center, authorities said.

The GSP said Bell will not face charges since the tire failure caused the incident.

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