Three women were killed Friday morning when their vehicle slammed into the back of a tractor-trailer on I-85 in Midtown, Atlanta police said.
Authorities shut down the northbound lanes for more than three hours while they investigated, resulting in major morning hang-ups on I-85 and every other interstate that crosses through the heart of the city.
Atlanta police responded to the crash scene just north of the Buford Spring Connector at about 3:45 a.m. The three occupants of the passenger vehicle were dead at the scene, according to police spokesman Officer Steve Avery.
They were identified by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office as Mercedes Ammamoo, 26, of Austell; Alyeshia Walton, 29, of Norcross; and Shavon McDavid, 36, of Shreveport, Louisiana.
The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured.
John Spink / John.Spink@ajc.com
John Spink / John.Spink@ajc.com
“The accident investigation unit responded and began working to determine the cause of the crash,” Avery said in a statement. “A determination on charges in the crash has not been made and the investigation is continuing.”
The northbound lanes did not reopen until 7:25 a.m., according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center. During the shutdown, drivers leaving downtown were being forced off the Downtown Connector onto I-75, and there was no access to I-85 North from I-75 South.
John Spink / John.Spink@ajc.com
John Spink / John.Spink@ajc.com
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