Investigators Say Deadly I-75 Incident Began With Traffic Stop

Investigators Say Deadly I-75 Incident Began With Traffic Stop

Authorities in Whitfield County have released new details about the tragic early-morning incident on I-75 in Dalton, Georgia, where three individuals lost their lives in a fiery multi-vehicle collision.

According to the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office, the sequence of events began during a routine stop along the interstate on Thursday morning. Deputies say the driver involved in the stop unexpectedly sped away before the encounter could be completed.

Officials report that the motorist then made a sudden U-turn on the interstate, heading in the wrong direction. Before the deputy trailing the vehicle could intervene, the fleeing car collided head-on with a GMC pickup truck and then struck a large commercial truck traveling along the roadway.

The impact caused both the passenger car and the commercial truck to catch fire, creating a dramatic scene visible from a distance. Emergency crews responded quickly, but the intense flames made rescue efforts extremely difficult.

Authorities confirmed that all three individuals who passed away were inside the fleeing vehicle. No other life-threatening injuries were reported among the occupants of the other vehicles involved.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is now working closely with the Whitfield County Coroner’s Office to verify the identities of those inside the vehicle. Officials say the process may take some time due to the condition of the scene.

Law enforcement agencies are continuing their review of the events leading up to the crash, and more information will be released as the investigation progresses.