Police ID woman killed in I-85 wreck in Gwinnett as 26-year-old Shannon Joiner

Gwinnett County police Wednesday identified the 26-year-old woman who was killed when her car hit the back of a tractor-trailer on I-85 during the evening rush hour the day before.

Shannon Joiner of Atlanta died from the injuries she sustained in the crash with a truck that had pulled over after running out of gas, police said.

The wreck happened on I-85 southbound at the Ga. 316 merge around 5:40 p.m. Tuesday and tied up traffic for hours.

Joiner was driving alone in a 2001 Honda Civic and attempting to merge from the ramp onto I-85 South, while the out-of-gas tractor-trailer was stopped in the gore, between the ramp and the main lanes, waiting for assistance, police said.

The Honda struck the rear of the trailer while crossing over the gore from the ramp to the main lanes, police said.

The truck driver was not hurt, and no charges or citations have been issued, authorities said.

Since the accident blocked several general-purpose lanes, the State Road and Tollway Authority opened the Express Lane to all traffic free of charge until the scene was cleared.

The investigation is continuing, and alcohol does not appear to be a factor, police said.