One Fatality Confirmed in I-285 Wreck in Cobb County

Update (7:20 p.m.): Cobb Police Sgt. Dana Pierce has told Northeast Cobb Patch that there were three vehicles involved in the accident, which occurred at 4:20 p.m. on eastbound I-285 just west of the Chattahoochee River.

Pierce says that a semi tractor trailer, a small pickup truck, and a passenger car were involved in the accident, but the circumstances of the accident are still under investigation.

He also confirmed one fatality, a passenger in the pickup. The driver has been taken to the hospital, but Pierce had no updates on his condition.

Update (6:40 p.m.): The Cobb County Police Department is asking motorists to avoid I-285 at all costs while they work on their investigation and clearing the accident site.

Police suggested alternate routes such as using I-20 if traveling on I-75, or exiting the interstate before reaching I-285.

"We're not going to be able to have this wreck cleared for some time," said Police Sgt. Dana Pierce.

A major accident with "multiple fatalities" on Interstate 285 eastbound has shut down all lanes of traffic, says the Georgia Department of Transportation.

The accident occurred at 285 and Powers Ferry Road. Delays are expected to be extremely heavy and the backup has already reached Georgia 400. 

Vinings resident Maggie Sutton passed the accident at around 4:40 p.m. as she traveled westbound on I-285 on the way home from her job in Norcross. She told Smyrna-Vinings Patch the eastbound lanes were completely blocked and that fire rescue vehicles were driving the wrong way down the Interstate to reach the accident.

“Multiple trucks were trying to come from the other way,” she said. “I couldn’t see what the actual wreck looked like at all. It was blocked by the emergency vehicles.”

11 Alive reported that the delay stretches about three miles. 

It is not yet known what the circumstances of the accident. FOX 5 Atlanta has confirmed at least one person has died.