I-85 reopens after vehicle fire at same exit as massive weekend blaze

A driver of a stolen vehicle ran away after causing a multivehicle collision on I-85 that resulted in a fire Monday morning, authorities said.

The fiery wreck near Jimmy Carter Boulevard happened about one mile south of another massive blaze that caused hours of delays on the interstate Saturday.

TRAVEL ADVISORY in Gwinnett County as @GwinnettFire battle a Vehicle Fire on I-85/nb before Jimmy Carter Blvd. (exit 99) several right lanes are tough delays use Buford Hwy and stay with @wsbtv and @wsbradio for updates https://t.co/MhPvicYKPN #ATLtraffic pic.twitter.com/odSV0j6wC3
— AJC WSB Traffic (@ajcwsbtraffic) February 3, 2020

According to the Georgia State Patrol, the driver of a stolen 2019 Dodge Challenger was following too closely behind a Toyota Camry as the vehicles approached the Norcross exit. The Toyota was hit from behind and overturned, hitting a tractor-trailer in the next lane as it flipped.

The Toyota then struck a barrier wall before bursting into flames. After impact, the driver of the Dodge “left the scene on foot and has not been located,” the state agency said.

Another massive vehicle fire on I-85/nb near Jimmy Carter Blvd. live updates on @wsbtv and @wsbradio. #ATLtraffic #wsbtv pic.twitter.com/Q2bl38aItG
— Mark Arum (@MarkArum) February 3, 2020

When Gwinnett County fire crews arrived just before 6:30 a.m., the Toyota was fully engulfed, Gwinnett fire spokesman Lt. Justin Wilson told AJC.com. One driver was assessed by medics at the scene and taken to a hospital with minor injuries.

The fire was extinguished quickly, but the interstate remained blocked for nearly two hours Monday to clear the charred wreckage. Three northbound lanes were blocked at times before they reopened about 8 a.m., according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

TRAVEL ADVISORY: Vehicle Fire is now out on I-85/nb before Jimmy Carter Blvd. but several right lanes remain blocked with @GwinnettFireon scene expect delays https://t.co/MhPvicYKPN #ATLtraffic pic.twitter.com/Svkb51fPcH
— AJC WSB Traffic (@ajcwsbtraffic) February 3, 2020

The latest blaze was in “virtually the same spot” as another crash Saturday morning that killed two people when a fuel tanker exploded, traffic reporter Mark Arum said. The blast sent a huge fireball over I-85, forcing nearby motorists to abandon their vehicles and shutting down traffic in both directions.

The northbound lanes did not open until 10 hours later when Georgia Department of Transportation crews completed repairs on the charred roadway.

PHOTOS: Massive fire after I-85 crash in Gwinnett

“It’s unbelievable,” Arum said of the back-to-back incidents. “DOT repairs the road in time for the Monday morning rush hour, and then this.”

The fire Monday morning was not believed to have damaged the interstate.