1 killed, 3 hurt in crash that blocked Downtown Connector for 2 hours

A woman was killed and three others were injured in a crash that shut down the southbound Downtown Connector during the Thursday morning commute.

The interstate was shut down at Langford Parkway between 4:40 a.m. and 6:40 a.m. while authorities investigated, causing miles of gridlock through Midtown.

According to an Atlanta police incident report obtained by AJC.com, a Toyota Avalon rear-ended a Nissan Armada near Fair Drive, causing the vehicle to catch on fire.

The passenger in the back seat of the Toyota, Barbara Sutherland, was killed. She was born in 1935 and was from Louisville, Ky., the report said.

The car’s driver and front-seat passenger were both taken to Grady Memorial Hospital and were stable at the scene, the report said. The driver of the Nissan was also taken to Grady and was stable.

No charges are expected to be filed in this case, police said.

During the shutdown, traffic was backed up for miles leaving I-20, according to the Traffic Center. The access road at Langford Parkway remained open.

In other news:

Investigators said two boats collided around 5 p.m. in the area near Bald Ridge Creek and Little Ridge Park.??

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