Last Thursday, a large fire caused a section of Interstate 85 in Atlanta to collapse, shutting down the highway for the foreseeable future. Now three people are behind bars in connection with the fire; two for criminal trespassing and one for first-degree arson.
According to an affidavit, Basil Eleby, Sophia Bruner, and Barry Thomas gathered under the bridge to “smoke crack” that afternoon. While high on drugs, 39-year-old Basil Eleby, who is homeless, placed a chair on top of a shopping cart and ignited it.
“We believe they were together when the fire was set and Eleby is the one who set the fire,” said Deputy Insurance Commissioner Jay Florence.
Barry Thomas told investigators that he and Bruner fled after Eleby set the fire.
Sophia Bruner and Barry Thomas were charged with criminal trespassing. Eleby was charged with more serious crimes of first-degree arson and felony criminal damage to property, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Court records indicate that Eleby was arrested 19 times since 1995, mostly on drug charges.
A section of the northbound lanes near midtown Atlanta collapsed because of the fire, with additional damage occurring on the southbound side. Now 350 feet of roadway on each side must be replaced. The highway will remain closed for months, causing millions of travelers to find alternate routes.
Judge James Altman set Eleby’s bail at $200,000. He said the monetary loss caused by the fire “amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars.”