2 Crashes Shut Down I-285 In DeKalb, 5 Killed In Wrecks: Police

DEKALB COUNTY, GA — Two car crashes caused I-285 in DeKalb County to shut down for hours Monday morning, and five people were killed in the two wrecks, according to the DeKalb County Police Department.

The first crash shut down the outer loop before Moreland Avenue around 1 a.m., and the interstate remained closed for nearly six hours, but has since reopened. Four men were killed in the wreck, which involved at least four cars, DeKalb police said.

All eastbound lanes closed while the area was under investigation. Lanes began reopening at 6:40 a.m., but "massive delays" remained all along the Perimeter, according to WSB-TV's 24-hour Traffic Center.

MASSIVE delays on the east side perimter in DeKalb Co. @mckayWSB live over the jams on @wsbradio and @wsbtv. #ATLtraffic #wsbtv pic.twitter.com/qrl9jRWh1H
— Triple Team Traffic (@WSBTraffic) February 8, 2021

A second crash occurred on I-285 near Lawrenceville Highway and Lavista Road around 4 a.m., killing one man after he got out of his car to change a tire, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

“The victim, a male, was changing his flat tire near the median wall when he was struck by a vehicle,” she said in an email to the AJC. “He was transferred to a local hospital, where he died.”

The scene did not clear until 7:20 a.m., per the Traffic Center.

This Crash has Cleared says @mckayWSB in News Chopper 2 over I-285/nb (Outer Loop) at Lawrenceville Hwy (exit 38). All lanes are now open, but delays remain. Stay w/@wsbtv @wsbradio for #AirborneAdvantage updates #ATLTraffic pic.twitter.com/pll4qcbeod
— AJC WSB Traffic (@ajcwsbtraffic) February 8, 2021

No victims have been identified as of late Monday morning.