NORTH FORSYTH — The driver of an 18-wheeler who caused a chain reaction of rear-end crashes and spilled part of a load of chicken parts onto Ga. 400 last week has been cited in the incident.

Vernon Sullens, 47 of Dawsonville, was issued a citation — he was not arrested — for following too closely, according to the Georgia State Patrol.

The incident happened about 6 p.m. Nov. 23 as Sullens was traveling north on Ga. 400 just south of Browns Bridge Road (Hwy. 369).

He was driving a 2005 freightliner conventional tractor trailer owned by Leon Jones Feed & Grain Inc. and struck the rear of a 2013 Volkswagen Passat.

According to state patrol spokeswoman Robin Stone, the Passat then was pushed into the back of a 2010 Lexus IS250, which was pushed into a 2012 Ford pickup truck.

The three passenger vehicles had slowed down in traffic, preparing to stop ahead.

According to Stone, Sullens told troopers he was looking in his side mirror to check his load and did not realize the other vehicles had slowed down “almost to a stop.”

No drivers reported injuries after the crash, which closed the heavily traveled corridor for about two hours as crews worked to clean up the chicken parts.

All of the people involved in the wreck were wearing seatbelts, Stone said.