Stephen Hasner | | March 11, 2024
ATLANTA — Commuters faced significant delays on Monday during the evening commute as emergency crews and Atlanta Police responded to a pair of vehicular incidents on Interstate 285 northbound at Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. The congestion ensued following a two-vehicle collision and a separate car fire that erupted on the afternoon of the same day.
Atlanta Fire Rescue Department units were dispatched to the scene at approximately 3:26 p.m. after reports of an accident involving two cars and a subsequent vehicle fire that had escalated, spreading to nearby vegetation and leading to a sizeable brush fire at 294 Brownlee Road SW.
Upon arrival, firefighters quickly set about suppressing the flames, which had ignited a brush area in addition to the vehicle fire. Concurrently, emergency medical personnel attended to the crash site, where one individual reported sustaining injuries and indicated pain. The individuals in the second vehicle involved in the accident fled the scene on foot according to authorities.
As the evening progressed, traffic movement gradually improved. Lanes were incrementally reopened and Atlanta Police officers worked to channel vehicles away from the disruptions.
Overhead, the 11Alive SkyTracker provided visuals of the extensive operational activities, capturing images of multiple fire engines at the site as they concluded fire extinguishing efforts. The highway backup, which extended for several miles, was clearly visible from the aerial perspective.
Source: 11Alive.com WXIA