Georgia · I-85 · Jackson County
I-85 Jackson County Crash: 1 Dead, Truck Driver Charged After 5-Vehicle Chain Reaction at Mile Marker 136
A Penske rental truck rear-ended a Toyota Corolla and set off a five-vehicle chain reaction on I-85 northbound near Jefferson. All northbound lanes were closed for just over three hours.
Key facts
- Where
- I-85 northbound, mile marker 136, near SR 11 / US 129 — Jefferson, Jackson County
- When
- Monday evening — lanes closed 5:22 p.m., reopened 8:29 p.m.
- What
- Penske rental truck rear-ended a Toyota Corolla, starting a 5-vehicle chain reaction
- Killed
- The driver of the Corolla, name not released
- Injured
- The driver of a Nissan Altima, hospitalized
- Charges
- Second-degree vehicular homicide, following too closely
- Investigating
- Georgia State Patrol
What happened on I-85 in Jackson County?
One person was killed and another hospitalized after a five-vehicle chain-reaction crash on Interstate 85 northbound in Jackson County on Monday evening.
According to Georgia State Patrol accounts reported by FOX 5 Atlanta and Atlanta News First, a Penske rental truck struck the back of a Toyota Corolla and pushed it into the median. The truck then hit a Nissan Altima, which was pushed into a Chevrolet Trax and a Ford F-150.
The driver of the Corolla was taken to a hospital and later died. Their identity has not been released.
The driver of the Altima was also hospitalized. FOX 5 described those injuries as critical; Atlanta News First described them as serious.
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Where exactly did the crash happen?
The wreck happened at mile marker 136 on I-85 northbound, near the SR 11 / US 129 interchange at Jefferson.
This stretch carries traffic between metro Atlanta and the Athens–Gainesville corridor. Mile marker 136 sits just south of the Jefferson exit.
How long were the lanes closed?
Troopers shut down all northbound lanes at 5:22 p.m. The highway reopened at 8:29 p.m. — a closure of just over three hours during the Monday evening commute.
What charges does the truck driver face?
| Charge | Type |
|---|---|
| Second-degree vehicular homicide | Misdemeanor under Georgia law |
| Following too closely | Traffic violation |
The driver's identity has not been released. These are charges, not convictions. The driver has not been tried, and anyone charged with a crime is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Georgia State Patrol is handling the investigation.
What we don't know yet
- The name of the driver who died, pending family notification
- The name of the truck driver
- The current condition of the Altima's driver
- Whether the investigation will produce additional charges
This page will be updated as Georgia State Patrol releases more information.
Were you involved? What to know about the report
Georgia State Patrol worked this wreck — which means the report is not filed with Jackson County, and it will not exist for several business days.
That gap is where the expensive mistake happens. The insurance adjuster calls within 24 to 48 hours, asks for a recorded statement, and you have no report to check their version against.
Attention: You are not required to give a recorded statement before you have seen the report.
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