Old National Highway collision: Crash highlights dangers of South Fulton intersection

SOUTH FULTON, Ga. - Emergency crews responded Wednesday afternoon to a crash involving a van and a red pickup truck on Old National Highway near Burdett Road, temporarily shutting down the busy roadway in South Fulton. Firefighters worked to rescue the driver of the white van, who was pinned inside after the collision, while medics rushed both drivers to the hospital. There is no current update on their conditions.

South Fulton Police reported that they believe one driver crossed the center line, leading to the head-on collision. Captain Reginald McCain of the South Fulton Police Department highlighted the challenges of maintaining safety on Old National Highway, which has become known for frequent accidents.

"This is Old National Highway, a very busy highway," said Captain McCain, noting the high volume of traffic and the potential for accidents along this corridor. While authorities were still investigating the initial crash, another minor accident occurred nearby, underscoring the road’s high-risk status.

Changes to Old National Highway

The crash comes just days after the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety provided a grant aimed at reducing accidents and crime on Old National Highway. In response to persistent safety concerns, South Fulton has deployed a dedicated HEAT (Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic) unit to focus on accident prevention and heightened enforcement along this stretch.

"The city of South Fulton has now put a HEAT unit together that’s going to be tackling incidents on Old National Highway specifically for things such as this," said McCain. "The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety gave us a grant, and we’re putting that into fruition right now."

Captain McCain explained that residents and drivers could expect a greater police presence along Old National Highway, especially during peak traffic hours, as part of the initiative funded by the state grant.

"The changes are going to be more of a heavy police presence on Old National during the midday to late or early morning watch hours," said McCain. "We hope this will result in a decrease in the accidents we’re experiencing here."

With the holiday season approaching, McCain urged drivers to exercise caution. "This is going to be the holiday season," he said. "I know people are trying to get family and friends home. But if you can’t get there safely, you can’t celebrate."

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