FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ga. — Two separate crashes early Thursday morning shut down both northbound lanes of Interstate 85 for approximately 2.5 hours in Franklin County, according to Georgia State Patrol Post 52 in Hartwell.
Sgt. J.R. Dean said Trooper First Class Pratz responded around 3:53 a.m. Feb. 19 to a three-vehicle crash near mile marker 157 that resulted in a complete road blockage.
The preliminary investigation found a 2007 Volvo tractor-trailer driven by Andrey Tarasyuk, 42, of Gaffney, South Carolina, and a 2021 Freightliner tractor-trailer driven by Dennis Melton, 53, of Fitzgerald, were traveling north in the right lane. A 2015 Honda Civic driven by Philip Royle, 41, of Eastanollee, was traveling north in the left lane.
According to Dean, the Freightliner was traveling slowly with its hazard lights activated when the Volvo, which was following too closely, struck the rear of the Freightliner.
Debris from the crash then struck the Honda in the left lane, causing it to travel off the left shoulder, hit a guardrail and come to a controlled stop.
Tarasyuk was transported by Franklin County EMS to Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center with minor injuries. Melton and Royle reported no injuries.
While troopers were investigating, a second crash occurred in the same northbound lanes.
Dean said a 2005 Chevrolet tow truck driven by Tommy Atkins, 73, of Carbon Hill, Alabama, and a 2024 International tractor-trailer driven by Ricardo Hall, 47, of Camilla, were traveling north in the right lane. The Chevrolet was following too closely and struck the rear of the International.
Tommy Atkins was transported by Franklin County EMS to St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries. His passenger, Larry Atkins, 75, of Carbon Hill, reported no injuries. Hall also reported no injuries.
Both northbound lanes of I-85 were closed for about 2½ hours while troopers investigated and crews removed the vehicles.
Charges are pending against the drivers of the Volvo and the Chevrolet, Dean said.
