5 killed, 3 injured in crash on I-85 in Atlanta on Labor Day

shutterstock_1198189561598873

An Atlanta crash early Monday on the SR 316 westbound ramp to Interstate 85 southbound killed five people, with three people injured. The deaths were just 5 of 17 reported in Georgia on Labor Day, according to Georgia’s Department of Public Safety.

According to a news release from Gwinnett County police, the accident occurred just before 4 a.m. local time in Gwinnett County, with 911 calls reporting a vehicle going “over the wall of the raised ramp, falling onto the Interstate 85 southbound Collector-Distributor to Pleasant Hill Rd.” County fire personnel identified five people dead at the scene, while three others were taken to local hospitals. The ramp from Highway 316 West to I-85 South was closed for several hours on Monday before reopening.  Gwinnett police officials posted on Facebook: “The main I85 SB travel lanes are clear and reopened. The C-D from both I85 SB and SR316 WB remain closed and will be closed for an extended period of time while the Gwinnett County Police Accident Investigation Unit handles the investigation.” Investigators are still trying to determine what led to the collision, police said in the news release.

Witnesses are encouraged to call (678-442-5653) or email (pdaccidentinvestigationunit@gwinnettcounty.com) GCPD Investigators with any information.

Editorial credit: Kristi Blokhin / Shutterstock.com