Man burned in fiery tanker truck crash, fuel spill on I-285 in DeKalb

A fiery crash and fuel spill blocked a portion of I-285 West in DeKalb County for more than six hours and sent a man to a local hospital with visible burns, police said.

It is unknown what caused the accident involving a tanker truck hauling 8,800 gallons of fuel, a tractor-trailer hauling 30,000 to 40,000 pounds of plywood and another vehicle.

Officers responded to the crash about 11:45 p.m. Tuesday and shut down the interstate near Flat Shoals Road due to a gasoline spill and a fire caused by the spill, DeKalb police Lt. Lonzy Robertson said.

“Drivers were sent the wrong way on 285 to get them away from the accident,” he said. “Hazmat and HERO services responded to the scene to contain the spill.”

The man was alert and stable when he was taken to the hospital, according to police.

A left lane reopened about 4 a.m. Wednesday, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center. All lanes reopened just before 6 a.m.

We’re working to learn more.

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