Mechanical failure caused fatal crash on Ga. 400

ALPHARETTA - Authorities believe mechanical failure in a minivan caused a rush-hour crash that shut down Georgia 400 at Alpharetta. <br> <br> Ilario Pecero, 31, of Roswell died in the accident, which happened about 6 a.m. Tuesday. <br> <br> Alpharetta police spokesman Chris Lagerbloom says investigators believe the 1993 Ford Aerostar lost speed from some mechanical failure. But he says the cause is still undetermined. <br> <br> The van burst into flames after overturning when it was hit from behind by a tractor-trailer. <br> <br> Pecero was a passenger in the van that collided with a northbound tractor-trailer. The van crossed the median, overturned and caught fire. <br> <br> DeKalb County police officer Russell Bodin, a window replacement worker, John Mercer of Gainesville and Stanley Lovell of Cumming pulled three other men from the burning van to safety. A fourth passenger escaped unaided. <br> <br> Lagerbloom says the truck driver - Adam Kimball - was cited for violating state regulations for driving an overloaded rig.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/5/194632