DeKalb County

Driver describes hitting buckled I-20: 'We went airborne'

By Tom Regan, WSB-TV
By Tom Regan, WSB-TV

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A Hall County driver who hit the buckling road surface Monday on Interstate 20 says he had no time to stop and avoid it.

"It was about 2 1/2 feet high at that time. We went airborne, almost over it. By the time we landed, I thought we had knocked the front of my car off. It was a hard bump," John Moody said.

Moody told Channel 2's Tom Regan he was driving his wife to work Monday morning when he slammed into the roadway crack that continued to grow and expand.

Atlanta Gas Light said a crew filling an old gas pipe sleeve with concrete injected too much, and the overflow caused the road surface to bulge and crack.

Moody said moments before he hit the concrete obstacle, a motorcycle passed in front of him. He learned moments later that the motorcyclist was thrown from his bike.

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"He was lying on the ground. His motorcycle was about 50 yards from him. He was unconscious. There was a pediatrician trying to converse with him, but I don't think she got anything out of him," Moody said.

The motorcycle rider, identified as Kwame Brown, was last listed in critical condition at Grady Memorial Hospital.

The Georgia Department of Transportation shut down the highway for several hours. Two lanes reopened around 4:30 p.m. Monday. Repairs were completed and the entire westbound highway was reopened around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, five hours ahead of the projected completion time

"Through the use of some additives to concrete that was already quickly curing concrete, the team was able to re-lay the road bed overnight, poured seven trucks of concrete to fill the void and covered the hole quickly. Given the fact that we are dealing with the closure of I-85 during the time, replacing the bridge, it was particularly important that stretch was repaired and reopened to traffic as soon as possible," said GDOT spokesman Scott Higley.

The driver who witnessed the crash hopes the motorcycle rider can make a full recovery.

"It's a sad situation. I hope he is alright," Moody said.

Cox Media Group

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