Wreck Thursday morning shuts northbound I-85

Updated Friday at 1:30 p.m.

A Gainesville man died Thursday when a truck carrying chicken feed crashed down an embankment on Interstate 85.

The Georgia State Patrol said David Loggins, 48, a passenger in the vehicle was killed. The accident, which occurred near the 148 mile marker (between Hwy. 98 and U.S. 441) shut down the northbound lane of traffic from about 9:30 a.m. until after 3:00 p.m. as officials cleared the accident.

The driver of the truck was also injured. The State Patrol did not release his name.

According to a Commerce police officer who witnessed the accident, a northbound passenger vehicle swerved into the path of the 18-wheeler, forcing the driver off the road to avoid a collision.

Commerce police stopped the vehicle that allegedly caused the accident, according to Officer William Thomas. Charges against its driver could follow pending the outcome of the State Patrol's investigation.

Thomas, en route to back up another Commerce officer at a traffic stop just ahead of the accident, said he captured the accident on his in-car video system.