Driver Arrested in Fatal I-85 Wreck

An Alabama tractor-trailer driver was in police custody Friday after he allegedly rear-ended another tractor-trailer, causing a fiery, head-on collision between two other trucks that killed another driver and injured a third.

Wesley Williard McClure Jr., 48, was being held at the Coweta County Jail in connection with the wreck that occurred Thursday night shortly after 11 p.m. on I-85 south in Coweta County just south of the Collinsworth Road exit.

McClure was facing several charges, including vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of an accident and following too closely. He was expected to make an initial appearance in court Friday for a bond hearing.

One man, who was burned beyond recognition, died at the scene following the accident, which prompted authorities to shut down I-85 for over four hours. A second driver was airlifted to a metro Atlanta hospital for treatment. The identities of both victims and the condition of the hospitalized driver were pending.

The accident occurred when one northbound tractor-trailer crossed the center grassy median and struck another southbound tractor-trailer head-on. The driver in the northbound truck died.

Both vehicles caught on fire and exploded. It was not immediately known what, if anything, the vehicles were carrying.

The wreck prompted officials to close I-85 about 1 a.m. Some lanes reopened around 5:30 a.m.

Authorities said McClure’s truck apparently struck the other northbound truck from behind, causing the driver to lose control and to veer into southbound traffic.

McClure, who was driving for Action Resources, located in Mobile, Ala., did not stop at the scene, but was found several hours later by investigators after he called 911 and admitted to being involved, authorities said. The man drove to Conyers to drop off his load, which is where law enforcement officers took him into custody.

He initially told dispatchers that he had just witnessed the crash, but did not stop, authorities said. His story changed on a subsequent call.

"He apparently called dispatchers back and asked a few more questions and then called back the third time and stated 'I did hit the 18-wheeler," said sheriff's Cpl. John LaChance. "He probably heard that someone had died and his conscience did get the better of him."

wsbtv.com Staff Writer Alfred Charles and Channel 2 Action News reporter Tiffani Reynolds and Mark Arum in the Triple Team Traffic Center contributed to this report.