MARIETTA -- At least one person was killed Wednesday during a chain collision accident involving two vehicles and four tractor trailers, which burst into flames during the wreck.

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The incident occurred shortly before 2 p.m. on the northbound lanes of I-285 near the Paces Ferry Road exit in Cobb County.

The victim, who died at the scene, was not immediately identified. The wreck happened as the afternoon rush hour was ramping up for the evening commute home.

Several lanes were shut down while crews worked to remove the wreckage. All lanes did not reopen until after 9 p.m., at least six hours after the crash initially happened.

It was also not immediately clear how the wreck occurred. Motorists traveling in the area could expect lengthy delays while crews worked to investigate the accident and clear the debris.

Officials recommended that motorists traveling eastbound on I-20 continue into Atlanta and take I-75/85 north to I-75 to continue into Cobb.

Vicky Gavalas, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation, said crews were working as fast as they could to clear the scene.

"The task at hand is to get it cleared up and the road reopened," she said.

wsbtv.com Staff Writer Alfred Charles contributed to this report.