News
News

Man killed in fiery crash that shut down I-20 in DeKalb

The eastbound lanes of I-20 were shut down for about two hours Thursday morning following a fatal wreck and car fire in DeKalb County.

Credit: Georgia Department of Transportation

Credit: Georgia Department of Transportation

The eastbound lanes of I-20 were shut down for about two hours Thursday morning following a fatal wreck and car fire in DeKalb County.
By
Updated April 29, 2021

A man in his early 20s was killed Thursday morning in a fiery crash that shut down the eastbound lanes of I-20, DeKalb County police said.

The crash happened shortly before 10:20 a.m. when the man’s car broke down just past the Candler Road exit, authorities said. Moments later, the car was struck from behind by another driver, causing it to catch on fire.

The victim’s name has not been released.

Georgia Department of Transportation cameras showed firetrucks and police blocking traffic as firefighters sprayed water onto the charred remains of a car. The crash shut down the eastbound lanes of the interstate for about two hours.

Traffic was diverted onto Candler Road as DeKalb police investigated and cleared the scene. All lanes reopened just before 12:20 p.m., according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.

About the Author

Follow Shaddi Abusaid on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Steven Simmons, 57, is facing charges of concealing the death of another person and tampering with evidence, police said.

Emory University custodian charged after woman found dead in Atlanta park

Police found an unresponsive woman, who was pronounced dead at the scene, and charged a 57-year-old man who had worked for Emory University until Wednesday.

Georgia’s ports report strong month despite China tariff effects

The Georgia Ports Authority recorded its eighth best month for container volumes in history in May in spite of a U.S.-China trade war and tariffs.

Atlanta rapidly grows data center footprint amid fervent competition

Data centers have become one of the fastest-growing uses for industrial land in the United States as companies digitize and internet usage grows.

The Latest

The Georgia Ports Authority built a 90-acre container storage yard, known as Garden City Terminal West, in 2023 and 2024 at a cost of $200 million. The facility can hold 20,000 container units. (Courtesy of Georgia Ports Authority)

Credit: Courtesy of Georgia Ports Authority

Georgia’s ports report strong month despite China tariff effects

A.M. ATL: The heat is on

A.M. ATL: Debating the big strikes

Featured

Carter Blalock, 6, runs through the splash fountain at Riverside Park Splash ’N Play in Roswell on Monday, June 23, 2025. (Natrice Miller/ AJC)

Heat advisory in effect as Atlanta temperatures tease triple-digits

A heat wave will have Atlanta temperatures feeling like triple digits this week, forecasters say.

Waymo has come to Atlanta. Here’s what it’s like to ride in a driverless car.

Waymo and its driverless cars have come to Atlanta and are ready to be booked.

Longest segment of Beltline to date opens on west side

The newly finished portion of the 6.8-mile continuous trail runs through historic Black communities.