Bad wreck on US 27 bypass
The wreck of the 18-wheelers results in serious injury to one driver, who had to be airlifted to an Atlanta hospital for emergency surgery.
Emergency responders work at the scene of a wreck that occurred at the intersection of U.S. 27 bypass at Lee’s Chapel Road in Cedartown.
Two tractor-trailers collided on the Cedartown bypass late in the week, shutting down traffic through the area for hours and sending one man to the hospital who remained in critical condition over the weekend following emergency surgery.
Georgia State Patrol officials reported that Lewis Brown of Morganton was air lifted to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta for immediate treatment following the wreck, which completely destroyed the engine and cab of Brown’s 2007 Freightliner tractortrailer.
According eyewitness accounts, evidence on the scene and the second driver involved, David Hendrix of Douglasville, Brown’s truck was following behind Hendrix’s truck, a 2015 Freightliner operated by J. B. Hunt-Intermodal on the Cedartown bypass at Lee’s Chapel Road in the northbound outside lane and was slowing for a red light.
Reports stated that Brown’s truck is reported to have struck the back of Hendrix’s truck, causing both to go out of control. Hendrix’s trailer spun clockwise and was knocked out of the way into Lee’s Chapel Road, where it came to a stop mainly unharmed and facing southeast.
Brown’s truck also spun clockwise, but it continued north after impact and struck a crosswalk signal, overturned and then struck a concrete utility pole. At some point during the wreck Brown’s cab became detached from the rest of the frame, and it ultimately came to a rest in an overturned position within the remnants of the trailer, which was cut in half by the utility pole. Spilling out of the wrecked trailer onto the roadway were its contents consisting of millions of small pellets.
Hendrix was rushed out of Polk County by an Emory University Medical Center helicopter, according to Cedartown Police Chief Jamie Newsome.
Additionally, Hendrix was later transported to Polk Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. Updates on Brown’s condition were not available at press time.
Officials did not provide any information about potential charges against Brown in the collision.
Traffic in the area was blocked off for several hours while officials investigated the causes of the wreck, and later worked to clear away debris.