A six-vehicle crash on I-75 near Calhoun, Georgia, claimed three lives and left two others injured on Tuesday morning, causing disruptions to one of the Southeast’s busiest corridors.
The fiery wreck, which involved three semi-trailers and three passenger vehicles, shut down all southbound lanes for several hours, with authorities advising motorists to seek alternate routes.
According to a preliminary investigation by the Georgia State Patrol, the incident began near mile marker 308 in Gordon County. A tractor-trailer heading north collided with a Hyundai Sonata, causing the truck to lose control, cross the median, and enter the southbound lanes.
This triggered a chain reaction of collisions involving two additional semi-trailers, a Toyota Corolla, and a Ford Ranger. The Ford Ranger ended up in flames, while one semi-trailer was left crumpled in a ditch and another partially off the highway.
First responders arrived at the scene, the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office reported.
Three people died and two were injured. The identities of the victims have not been released. The injured were transported to a nearby hospital, their conditions have not been disclosed.
The exact cause of the initial collision remains under investigation.
The crash caused extensive traffic delays, with all southbound lanes of I-75 at exit 308 closed for much of the morning. Local officials urged drivers to exercise caution and avoid the area while cleanup efforts continued.
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) reported that the two left lanes were reopened by noon, while the right lane remained closed as crews continued their investigation and debris removal.
The I-75 corridor between Atlanta and Chattanooga is a critical artery for commercial and passenger traffic. Just days prior on Mother's Day, another multi-vehicle crash on I-75 near East Ridge, Tennessee, claimed two lives and caused multiple injuries.
Truck driver Joseph Antoinier, 65, was charged with two counts of felony reckless homicide, seven counts of felony reckless endangerment, and three counts of felony reckless assault.