BARTOW COUNTY, Ga. — Authorities say a semi-truck driver has died and another driver is recovering after a fiery accident that occurred on Friday afternoon.
According to the Georgia State Patrol, the two-vehicle accident happened just before 5 p.m. on southbound I-75 in Bartow County, not far from the Highway 411 exit and onramp.
Based on the state patrol's preliminary reports, the tractor-trailer was in the right lane heading south when the driver of a Jeep Cherokee that was merging onto the highway lost control.
The state patrol said the Jeep then struck the right side of the tractor-trailer causing its driver to lose control as well, striking bridge railing in the process. This damaged a fuel tank on the tractor-trailer causing a fire. Both vehicles came to rest on the right shoulder.
While exactly how the truck driver was injured in this series of events, the Georgia State Patrol did confirm that he succumbed to his injuries.
The condition of the Jeep driver has not yet been released. The Georgia State Patrol's Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team is assisting with the investigation. Neither the accident report nor the names of the victims have been released yet, though a spokesperson for the Georgia State Patrol said more information would be provided when it becomes available.
This is a developing story.
