BLECKLEY COUNTY, GEORGIA — One person was killed and multiple others were injured Friday morning following a serious crash involving three 18-wheelers and a pickup truck on Interstate 16 eastbound near the Bleckley–Twiggs county line.

^{Photo credit: Bleckley County Sheriff's Office}

According to the Georgia State Patrol, the crash occurred just before 9 a.m. when traffic slowed on I-16 eastbound. Investigators determined that two Freightliner box-style commercial trucks were stopped behind a Chevrolet Silverado that was pulling a utility trailer due to earlier traffic conditions.

A Kenworth tractor-trailer traveling behind the stopped vehicles failed to maintain a safe following distance and struck one of the Freightliners. The impact pushed that truck into the second Freightliner and then into the Chevrolet pickup and its trailer.

^{Photo credit: Bleckley County Sheriff's Office}

As a result of the collision, the Kenworth tractor-trailer overturned off the roadway, one Freightliner overturned into the median, and the second Freightliner struck the cable barriers. The Chevrolet pickup and utility trailer were pushed into the roadway amid the crash sequence.

Debris and disabled vehicles blocked both eastbound lanes of I-16, forcing a full closure of the roadway for an estimated five hours while emergency crews responded and investigators worked the scene.

^{Photo credit: Bleckley County Sheriff's Office}

Georgia State Patrol said one person was pronounced dead at the scene. Two others suffered serious injuries, and two additional individuals reported minor injuries. Bleckley County Sheriff Daniel Cape confirmed the fatality, and deputies, fire crews, and EMS all responded to the scene.

The crash remains under investigation.

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