It happened fast. Before most of the city was even awake, a quiet stretch of the Perimeter turned into a scene of absolute chaos. Honestly, there isn't any other way to put it—it was a nightmare for everyone involved.
Around 4:20 a.m. this morning, Friday, January 16, 2026, a horrific fatality on 285 today claimed two lives in DeKalb County. According to the DeKalb County Police and Doraville authorities, the wreck wasn't just a standard fender bender; it was a fiery, multi-vehicle collision caused by a driver going the wrong way.
Think about that for a second. You’re driving in the dark, maybe heading to an early shift or coming home from a late one, and suddenly headlights are coming straight at you on the interstate. It’s the kind of thing that stays with you.
The Timeline of the I-285 Tragedy
The sequence of events began near the Buford Highway exit. Police say a van, carrying six people, made a fatal mistake. It entered the I-285 exit ramp traveling in the wrong direction.
Initially, the van struck one vehicle on the ramp itself. But it didn't stop there.
Basically, the vehicle continued its path, merging onto the main lanes of I-285 Eastbound while still facing the wrong way. That’s when the second, much more violent collision occurred. The impact was so severe that the van burst into flames almost immediately.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene. It was a mess. You’ve got fire, twisted metal, and people trapped inside. When the smoke finally cleared and the first responders could get to work, they confirmed the worst: two people inside that van were dead.
Other occupants were rushed to local hospitals. Their conditions haven't been fully updated yet, but the trauma of a "fiery crash" usually means a long road to recovery.
Why Does This Keep Happening on the Perimeter?
It’s frustrating. Truly.
We see these reports all the time, and you start to wonder if the roads themselves are the problem or if it’s just human error at its most devastating. This specific fatality on 285 today highlights a terrifying trend in metro Atlanta. Just a few weeks ago, near Christmas, another person was killed on the same highway in DeKalb—that time a pedestrian trying to run across the lanes near Memorial Drive.
Safety experts like those at the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) have been sounding the alarm for a while now. A recent report even suggested that traffic fatalities in the metro area are now outpacing homicides. That is a sobering statistic.
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Factors That Contribute to Wrong-Way Wrecks
- Signage Visibility: Sometimes, in the rain or heavy fog, "Do Not Enter" signs just don't pop like they should.
- Impairment: While police haven't confirmed it for this morning's crash yet, alcohol or drugs are often the culprits when someone ends up on the wrong side of a divided highway.
- GPS Confusion: Believe it or not, sometimes people follow their phone's navigation right into a one-way situation because they aren't looking at the actual road.
The Ripple Effect: Traffic and Investigation
By 5:00 a.m., I-285 Eastbound was a parking lot. GDOT's 511 system was lighting up with alerts. If you were trying to get toward Spaghetti Junction or heading into Gwinnett, you were basically out of luck.
All lanes were shut down for hours.
The investigation into a fatality on 285 today is a massive undertaking. Investigators have to map the debris field, check the van’s internal computer if it survived the fire, and talk to any witnesses who managed to dodge the initial impact.
As of about 8:35 a.m., the lanes finally reopened. But the "all clear" on the road doesn't mean the story is over. Families are getting phone calls right now that will change their lives forever.
Staying Safe When the Road Gets Dangerous
Look, you can't control what other drivers do. That’s the scariest part of driving in Atlanta. But there are a few things that might give you a split second of an edge if you're out late or early.
- Avoid the "Fast" Lane at Night: Wrong-way drivers usually think they are in the slow lane, which, from their perspective, is your far-left lane. Staying in the middle or right lanes can sometimes give you a better "out" if someone appears in front of you.
- Scan Far Ahead: Don't just look at the bumper in front of you. Look at the horizon. If you see headlights where there shouldn't be any, start moving toward the shoulder immediately.
- Trust Your Gut: If a ramp looks weird or a sign is confusing, stop. It’s better to be the person doing a 3-point turn in a quiet area than the person entering the interstate against traffic.
The Doraville and DeKalb County Police Departments are still piecing together exactly why that van entered the ramp the wrong way. We don't have the names of the deceased yet, as next of kin are still being notified.
If you were a witness or have dashcam footage of the Buford Highway area around 4:15 a.m., police are asking you to come forward. Your footage could be the key to understanding how this started.
Immediate Next Steps for Atlanta Drivers:
- Check your dashcam settings to ensure it’s recording in low-light conditions; it’s your best witness in these situations.
- Download the 511GA app for real-time alerts that can help you bypass major "investigation" closures before you get stuck in the middle of them.
- If you find yourself facing a wrong-way driver, pull over to the nearest shoulder and call 911 immediately—do not attempt to chase or signal them yourself.