Friday March 29th, 2024 4:10AM

Wrong-way crash on I-85 claims a life in Banks County

The Georgia State Patrol has released details of a wreck that resulted in a fatality and shut down northbound traffic for hours on Interstate 85 in Banks County Tuesday.

The three-vehicle crash occurred just after 8:30 a.m. on I-85 northbound near mile marker 153 northbound, according to Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Coleman of GSP Post 6 in Gainesville. That location is about four miles north of Banks Crossing (Exit 149).

A 2016 Toyota Tundra was traveling south on Interstate 85 in the northbound lanes near mile marker 153 and collided head-on with a northbound 1995 Peterbilt tractor-trailer truck driven by 36-year-old Rocky Gosnell of Clarkesville, according to Coleman. Gosnell was transported by ambulance to St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

After colliding with the tractor-trailer that was northbound on I-85 in the right lane, the Toyota entered the left northbound lane, striking the front of a 2017 Kia Forte driven by Bennie Austin, 59, of Atlanta, according to Coleman. Austin was transported by ambulance to St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

“At this time, it is unknown why the Toyota was traveling in the wrong direction on the interstate,” Coleman said via email.

The driver who died in the wreck has been identified by GSP Cpl. Josh Hedden as Artur Grigoryan, 29, of Jacksonville, Fla.

The accident closed all northbound lanes of Interstate 85 for an extended period of time for the investigation and cleanup.

  • Associated Categories: Homepage, Local/State News, Georgia News
  • Associated Tags: fatal wreck, GSP, Banks County, wreck, Georgia State Patrol, I-85, Banks Crossing, Interstate 85, detour
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