GAINESVILLE - An overturned and burning tractor trailer on the southbound Interstate 985 on ramp at Athens Highway caused major headaches Tuesday afternoon for more than four hours.
The accident happened at about 12:40 p.m. and involved a truck carrying mail. The truck's driver, Jewell Tate of Athens was not injured.
"The front tire blew out on me. When it did, it pulled to the left and got off in the grass," Tate said.
His daughter, three year old Breanna, also escaped injury.
The "saddle" tanks on Jewell Tate's side ruptured, ignited and the flames consumed the truck and its contents.
The truck was hauling mail from Athens to Gainesville and then to north Gwinnett.
Gainesville Fire Chief Dick Taylor says some diesel fuel also spilled, but hay bales were put into a nearby stream to contain it until EPD arrived.
A host of other agencies also responded to the accident.
"We have all kinds of emergency personnel on the scene: DOT, fire, police, GSP. We would urge everybody to please avoid the area if possible," Department of Transportation spokeswoman Terri Pope said.
Even after the hot spots were extinguished and the wreckage removed, Pope said DOT crews still had to repair a 175-foot section of guardrail damaged in the accident.
The I-985 ramp at Athens Highway and the right southbound lane both reopened to traffic about 4:20 p.m.
Friday
May 9th, 2025
1:27AM
