I would like to set the record straight in regards to the deadly accident on I-85 S. at Ga. Highway 74. The gentleman from Peachtree City has determined that this accident was caused by a “cut-in” driver. Not hardly. What was the cause and how should I know?

This horrible accident was caused when southbound traffic exiting onto Hwy. 74 backed up for over a half-mile, bringing traffic to a stop, and a truck carrying five tons of construction debris failed to stop, striking stopped traffic traveling 70-75 mph.

And I know because I was traveling 100 feet behind and one lane over when it happened. It was the most horrible scene anyone could imagine.

So, were there other factors involved? Was the driver of this truck distracted? Did he suffer a sudden medical condition? Did the truck suffer a mechanical failure? We may never know the answers to these questions.

But I do know one thing: Uncontrolled growth along the Hwy. 75/I-85 corridor has overwhelmed the current infrastructure (roads, intersections, traffic signals, etc.) and turned this interchange into a nightmare for commuters. All with the approval and blessing of the city of Fairburn. And it is going to get worse.

Fairburn is now in the process of approving a shopping center on Hwy. 74 that will be as large as Lenox Square. Traffic backing up on the interstate for a half-mile at 3 p.m. on a Tuesday? We ain’t seen nothing yet.

Is “cut-in” traffic a serious issue at this exit? It sure is and it should be policed aggressively.

However, the culprit in this disaster? The city of Fairburn.

Bobby Wolff
Tyrone, Ga.