2 East Point officers injured in crash on I-285SB near Camp Creek Parkway
ATLANTA - The rain and slick roads are once again resulting in multiple crashes on the various interstates in the metro Atlanta area.
Follow @SKYFOXTraffic on X for the latest information
A multi-vehicle crash, which involved three police vehicles, shut down all lanes of Interstate 285 southbound near Camp Creek Parkway in East Point early Wednesday morning.
The crash was reported shortly before 5 a.m. Drivers were advised to use I-75/I-85S to I-85SB as an alternate route.
According to the East Point Police Department, three of their officers were working an "accident" in the fast lane when a tractor-trailer struck their police vehicles.
"That 18-wheeler really never slowed down, never put on brakes," Chief Buchanan said. "So, he just plowed through all three police vehicles."
Two officers were outside their vehicles. One of those officers tried to run, but was run over by his own vehicle. The third officer was still inside his vehicle when it was struck.
"My belief is he just did not see the officers, which is physically impossible at 5 in the morning," Chief Buchanan said. "All three units had lights on, so I don't know if he was sleeping or impaired. We don't know at this time."
Medics rushed two officers to Grady Memorial Hospital for treatment. One officer suffered a back injury while the other hurt his leg. They have since been released and are both expected to make a full recovery.
"Those officers are committed; they worked very hard and diligently to protect the city," Buchanan said. "For something like this to occur, it could have been catastrophic, so I'm just fortunate they are alive."
All three vehicles were "totally destroyed" in the incident, according to EPPD.
"It looks like they were smashed at an impound," said East Point Police Chief Shawn Buchanan.
Georgia State Patrol is investigating the incident. According to police, tractor-trailers are not authorized to travel in the number 1 lane of 1-285. The driver is expected to be charged with driving too fast for conditions, violation of the move over law, and prohibited lane usage by a truck.
"I’m asking everyone if you see a police officer, an ambulance, tow truck driver, please move over for these officers, for these emergency workers," he said.
Shortly after that crash, a crash blocked two of the right lanes on I-285NB past Northlake Parkway. That crash cleared around 6:18 a.m.
At around 6:30 a.m., it was reported that a crash was blocking the two left lanes on K-75SB at I-285.
And at 6:46 a.m., a crash could be seen blocking the left lane of I-20 EB at Chapel Hill Road in Douglas County.
At 6:50 a.m., SkyFOX Traffic reported a crash on I-75/I-85 near University Avenue that was slowing drivers down.
And about a minute later, a crashed semi was spotted blocking two right lanes on I-75SB before SR-138 in Clayton County.
A crash to the right on I-285NB near Covington Highway in DeKalb County was slowing drivers down around 6:53 a.m.
And all lanes were temporarily blocked around 7 a.m. on I-75SB at SR-138 in Claytonb County while a wrecker removed a vehicle after a crash.
At 7:12 a.m., a crash was reported in Union City on I-85NB before I-285.
In Gwinnett COunty, a crash blocked two right lanes on I-85NB past Hamilton Mill Road at around 7:19 a.m.
Drivers also had to deal with a crash blocking the left lane on I-20WB near Candler Road at around 7:20 a.m. in DeKalb County.