Atlanta, GA:Driver Charged In I-85 Accident on Tuesday, July 14th 2015

The tractor trailer driver who caused the fiery crash that shut down I-85 northbound for multiple hours Tuesday was charged following the accident.“This was a big catastrophe,” said Sgt. First Class Mike Adcock with the Georgia State Patrol, “but we are very fortunate nobody was injured.”The accident occurred about 3:40 p.m. when two tractor trailers were traveling northbound on I-85 near mile marker 46. According to Adcock, the driver of the first tractor trailer allegedly fell asleep, traveled off the right side of the road and struck the guardrail. The driver then lost control and swerved back onto the highway, but the truck jackknifed.In an attempt to avoid a collision, the following truck driver swerved to the left into the emergency lane, but was unable to evade the other tractor trailer. The second truck collided with the first on its left side, and the trucks’ side tanks ruptured, engulfing the two vehicles in flames.When both drivers realized their vehicles were on fire, they were able to safely get out of the trucks. Neither driver was seriously injured, and were treated on scene by emergency medical units, Adcock said. The driver of the first truck, Ronald Diaz from Tennessee, was charged with failure to maintain lane by Trooper Bryce King, who led the investigation.After the accident, the Coweta County Fire Department and Coweta County Sheriff’s Office shut down I-85 northbound between exits 41 and 47, and the interstate remained closed until about 6:15 p.m. At that time, two lanes were opened, but the right lane of the interstate was closed for a few more hours while authorities worked to clear the wreckage.According to Assistant Fire Chief Mitch Coggin, one tractor-trailer was hauling metal and the other was hauling plastics. The first truck was a total loss and the second was heavily damaged throughout its cab and half of its trailer.

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Driver Charged In I-85 Accident