Fatal Multi-Vehicle Crash on I-75/85 Southbound Claims Life of Stalled Driver
ATLANTA, GA – A tragic sequence of events on the Downtown Connector left one woman dead and several others injured early Friday morning, January 9, 2026.
Atlanta Police officers were dispatched to the I-75/85 southbound expressway near University Avenue at approximately 2:38 a.m. following reports of a massive pileup involving eight vehicles.
The Initial Mechanical Failure
The preliminary investigation by the APD Accident Investigations Unit suggests the chain reaction began when a female driver in a Jeep Renegade experienced mechanical issues. The failure caused her vehicle to lose power and come to a complete stop in the middle of the active expressway lanes.
Seeking safety or assessing the vehicle, the driver exited the Jeep. She was then struck by an oncoming Chevrolet Camaro, also operated by a female driver. The impact was fatal, and the victim was pronounced deceased at the scene by Fire and EMS personnel.
Massive Chain Reaction
The initial collision between the Camaro and the stalled Jeep triggered a secondary pileup involving six additional vehicles. The wreckage spanned across multiple lanes, involving:
- Toyota Highlander
- Nissan Sentra
- Toyota Camry
- White BMW
- Black Porsche Macan
- Black Yukon
Several of the drivers in these secondary collisions sustained injuries. While the injuries were described as non-life-threatening, multiple people were transported to local hospitals for treatment.
Investigation Status
The APD Accident Investigations Unit is still working to determine the exact mechanics of the secondary collisions and whether speed or visibility played a role in the initial strike. The identity of the deceased driver has not yet been released pending family notification.
