Authorities in Whitfield County have released the identities of three individuals involved in a devastating wrong-way incident on Interstate 75 that caused a major traffic disruption earlier this month in northwest Georgia.
The Whitfield County Coroner’s Office, in coordination with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, confirmed on Saturday that the individuals were Jamal Ali Omar Mitchell, 44, of Zion, Illinois; Steven Wayne Davis, 39, of Grayslake, Illinois; and Geoffrey Dejon Mitchell, 19, of Waukegan, Illinois.
The incident occurred on Thursday, December 4, along the southbound lanes of I-75 near Exit 336, within the Dalton city limits. According to information provided by the Georgia Department of Public Safety, law enforcement officers had been attempting to stop a vehicle that was traveling against traffic flow in the southbound lanes of the interstate.
Officials said the situation escalated after the driver reportedly left an initial traffic stop, made a sudden turn, and proceeded in the opposite direction on the highway. Shortly thereafter, the vehicle was involved in a severe collision with a pickup truck and then a commercial semi-truck.
Due to the force of the impact, the passenger vehicle became engulfed, and the three occupants inside were unable to survive the incident. Authorities confirmed that the drivers of the other vehicles involved did not sustain serious injuries.
The crash led to the closure of southbound lanes for several hours as emergency crews responded, cleared the scene, and conducted a preliminary investigation. Motorists in the area experienced significant delays during that time.
Officials say the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is still ongoing, and additional details may be released as more information becomes available. Authorities continue to remind drivers of the importance of remaining alert, obeying traffic laws, and immediately reporting wrong-way drivers to help prevent similar tragedies in the future.
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