A Catoosa County woman died this morning in a wreck on I-75 in Whitfield County, after her van collided with a tractor-trailer between the Tunnel Hill-Varnell and Walnut Street exits in Dalton.

The victim, Demera Robinson, lives in Catoosa County. She is a Dalton High School teacher and the daughter of principal Debbie Freeman. She is listed on the school’s website as a student council sponsor.

According to Sgt. Shawn Prather of Georgia State Patrol Post 5 in Dalton:

She was driving south on I-75 in a van and slammed into the rear of the tractor-trailer shortly after the trucker performed maintenance on the rig.

“The truck axle had caught fire after a blown tire, and it’s my understanding that the trucker was attempting to merge back into traffic when the incident occurred,” Prather said. “From what I have been told, the trucker had put out the fire, let the vehicle cool, and was gradually picking up speed again when the crash ensued.

“We’ll know more about the specifics of the incident as the investigation progresses,” Prather said.

Read more: CatWalkChatt – Catoosa County woman dies in I 75 crash