4 Tractor Trailers and 3 Other Vehicles in Inferno on I-285

At least one person was killed Wednesday afternoon, July 26th, when four tractor trailers, a utility-style truck and two passenger vehicles collided on I-285 in Cobb County, shutting northbound lanes for seven hours and sparking an inferno. The cause of the crash and names of trucking companies and victims were not immediately available. See coverage in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, WSB TV, and WXIA TV.
The drivers and their vehicles were later identified:
65-year-old Jean Hardnett of Atlanta died at the scene. Hardnett was driving a 2003 blue Chevrolet Tahoe.
A 1997 brown Mack semi tractor/trailer was driven by 43-year-old Gregory Garrison of Buford.
A 1999 white Freightliner semi tractor-trailer was driven by 22-year-old Brent Sauer of Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was treated and released from Emory Hospital.
A 2004 maroon Western Star semi tractor-trailer was driven by 31-year-old Mark McKay of Huntington, W. Va. He was transported to Grady Hospital for treatment.
A 2004 maroon Freightliner semi tractor-trailer was driven by 30-year-old Joseph Henson of Calhoun.
A 2003 Ford F-550 utility truck was driven by 40-year-old Hugh Ruphard Martin Jr. of Gainesville, Ga.
A 1997 white Freightliner semi tractor-trailer was driven by 43-year-old Grady Longino of Mableton.
A semi tractor-trailer that was broken down and parked on the emergency shoulder caught fire along with others as a result of the crash.
Investigators said they expect to file charges in the fatality crash and asked anyone with information to call 770-499-3987.

The Shigley Law Firm represents plaintiffs in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases statewide in Georgia, and in other states subject to the multijurisdictional practice and pro hac vice rules in each state. Ken Shigley was designated as a “SuperLawyer” in Atlanta Magazine and one of the “Legal Elite” in Georgia Trend Magazine. He is a Certified Civil Trial Advocate of the National Board of Trial Advocacy, Chair of the Southeastern Motor Carrier Liability Institute and former chair of the Georgia Insurance Law Institute. He particularly focuses on cases arising from truck wrecks and accidents (tractor trailers truck wrecks, semi truck wrecks,18 wheeler truck wrecks, big rig truck wrecks, log truck wrecks, dump truck wrecks).