An accident on I-20 that snarled traffic through DeKalb heading westbound into Atlanta was allegedly caused by a driver who hit a police car parked on the freeway shoulder, according to Georgia State Patrol.
The patrol officer was conducting a traffic stop on westbound I-20, east of Flat Shoals Road on the right shoulder when the accident occurred just after 4 p.m. Wednesday.
GSP said a gray Chevy Impala traveling in the first lane entered the right shoulder and struck a guardrail before hitting the officer’s patrol car. The Motor Carrier Compliance Division (MCCD) officer was in his patrol car at the time of impact and had minor injuries, police said. He was transported to Grady Hospital.
The force of the crash pushed the officer’s car south, cutting across the freeway uncontrollably before it stopped in the HOV lane and blocked traffic, according to police. The Impala continued forward, hitting a vehicle in the tow truck that the officer had stopped.
The male driver and a woman in the front seat of the Impala were both transported to Grady Hospital with injuries, according to police. Two young girls in the back seat, ages 6 and 4, were transported to Grady and later taken to Egleston Children’s Hospital with injuries. A 1-year-old girl was also taken to the hospital as a precaution.
Police said the children had booster seats but were not restrained properly. The man and woman in the front seat of the Impala were not wearing seatbelts, police said.
The driver of the tow truck and passenger complained of injuries and were taken to the hospital as well.
The investigation is ongoing and charges could be pending, police said.