Tire Tread Blamed for Fatal Accident

Gwinnett County Police believe a tire tread caused a Sept. 14 accident that killed a 35-year-old motorcyclist.

Police say Lonnie Cross was traveling northbound on I-85 in the left lane near the I-985 split when he struck a tire tread that had become airborne after being hit by another vehicle. The preliminary investigation showed that Cross lost control of his motorcycle after striking the tire tread. Cross fell off the motorcycle and came to rest in the path of a tractor-trailer traveling northbound in the center lane. The driver of the tractor-trailer was unable to stop his vehicle and ran over Cross.

Cross was transported to Gwinnett Medical Center where he died from injuries sustained in the accident.

All northbound lanes of I-85 were temporarily closed after the 5:33 p.m. accident. Traffic was diverted onto on I-985 while the GCPD Accident Investigation Unit was at the scene.

According to GCPD public information officer Cpl. Edwin Ritter, no charges are pending at this time.