State patrol: Attempt to avoid fire truck results in pileup

Mar. 1—TIFTON — A major wreck in Tift County Tuesday began as cars tried to yield to a fire truck.

Around 12:30 p.m., state troopers were dispatched to a four-vehicle crash on Ga. 520/U.S. 82 involving a commercial vehicle, a Georgia State Patrol statement said. A fire truck was in the west turn lane with lights and sirens going as it tried to make a left turn onto Salem Church Road.

A red SUV, a tractor-trailer and a silver SUV were heading east on the inside lane of Ga. 520; the red SUV stopped, yielding to the fire truck, the statement said.

The commercial vehicle braked and jackknifed, hitting the red SUV and pushing it into the outside lane. The silver SUV tried to pass the commercial vehicle and the red SUV to avoid a collision. The commercial vehicle's trailer hit the silver SUV, shoving it off the shoulder. A grey Ford F250 tried to make it through the crash scene but was hit in the rear by the commercial vehicle, the state patrol said.

The commercial vehicle wound up blocking all lanes for about four hours. No word is yet available on any injuries.