Lithonia, GA (August 22, 2026) – Two people were injured on Friday, August 21, after a three-vehicle crash on eastbound I-20 near Panola Road.
Georgia State Patrol said troopers were called around 2:25 a.m. The crash involved an 18-year-old driver of a 2013 Kia Optima and two vehicles stopped in an active work zone.
The Kia was traveling in the lane closest to the median when it struck a 2026 Dodge Durango. The Durango then hit a Ford F-650. A Greene County deputy and a 42-year-old man were taken to a hospital for their injuries.
The Kia driver, Jakori Cope, faces charges of violating Georgia’s Move Over law and following too closely. GSP did not say whether Cope was hurt. The circumstances surrounding the wreck remain under review.
We are thinking of those injured as they recover.
Why Are Work-Zone Crashes Especially Dangerous?
Work zones can create unusual traffic patterns, with vehicles stopped or moving slowly in lanes that normally carry continuous traffic. Drivers may need to reduce speed and watch carefully for lane shifts, workers, and stopped vehicles.
Georgia’s Move Over law requires drivers approaching certain stopped emergency, maintenance, and service vehicles to move over when possible. If changing lanes is not safe or possible, drivers must slow down and prepare to stop.
Following too closely also reduces the time available to react when traffic suddenly changes. Leaving additional space between vehicles can give drivers more time to brake and avoid a rear-end crash.
