[en] We examine the dynamics and emitted radiation from material with a large initial bulk Lorentz factor which decelerates as it sweeps up ambient matter. The bulk kinetic energy of the material is converted into non-thermal energy of electrons which radiate isotropically in the locally co-moving frame. Self-consistent solutions for the dynamics of the material are computed which account for changes in its bulk relativistic inertia due to accretion and the emitted radiation. Fully radiative and non-radiative solutions are shown to be limiting cases agreeing with standard solutions for spherically expanding blast waves. We have calculated the afterglow synchrotron emission for a variety of parameters and geometries, and we compare a fiducial example to the afterglow behavior observed from recent gamma-ray burst X-ray and optical counterparts