I-20 reopens in DeKalb after burning tractor-trailer blocked road

A major interstate in DeKalb County has reopened after a burning tractor-trailer in the roadway shut it down Tuesday afternoon.

**UPDATE**
All lanes back open I-20/wb at Wesley Chapel Rd (exit 68), still delays remain..https://t.co/2hvjWkI3bV #ATLtraffic
— AJC WSB Traffic (@ajcwsbtraffic) June 30, 2020

The tanker truck caught fire on I-20 westbound at Wesley Chapel Road, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center. Photos from the scene showed the tractor-trailer engulfed in flames under a bridge.

🚨#TrafficAlert 🚨: I-20 WB near Wesley Chapel Rd is shut down due to a tanker truck fire. There are no injuries at this time. The roadway is expected to reopen in approximately 30 minutes. #WeAreDKPD
— DeKalb County Police Department (@DeKalbCountyPD) June 30, 2020

It is not clear what led to the incident. DeKalb County police said there were no injuries reported.

All lanes of I-20 were blocked while authorities worked to put out the fire, the Traffic Center reported. All but one right lane had reopened by 4 p.m.

#BREAKING RED ALERT DeKalb Co.: Big rig fire...I-20/wb at Wesley Chapel Rd (Exit 68), the @wsbradio Jam Cam shows all lanes blocked. Use Covington Hwy as an alternate. @wsbtv https://t.co/P5uoKKVtrp #ATLtraffic pic.twitter.com/ggMSoO6FXJ
— Mike Shields WSB (@MikeShieldsWSB) June 30, 2020

Another crash on I-20 shut down all but one westbound lane at I-75/85, but the interstate reopened just before 3 p.m.

— Please return to AJC.com for updates.

In other news:

The hospital said they are diverting emergency room patients until further notice.

About the Author

Asia Simone Burns

Asia Simone Burns is a watchdog reporter for the AJC. Burns was formerly an intern in AJC’s newsroom and now writes about crime. She is a graduate of Samford University and has previously reported for NPR and WABE, Atlanta’s NPR member station.