The Georgia State Patrol says three drivers were hurt in wrecks caused by a wrong-way driver on Interstate 85 in Franklin County. The three were taken to South Carolina hospitals following the accidents Monday night near Lavonia.
Troopers from Georgia State Patrol Post 52 in Hartwell responded to the crash just south of the Lavonia exit. They say a Toyota Corolla Matrix was traveling south in the northbound lanes shortly before 9 p.m. on Jan. 6.
A northbound Freightliner swerved to avoid colliding with the car. The truck driver, 50-year-old Jermial Rogers of Dallas, Texas, lost control of the rig, which overturned. The Toyota then struck a northbound Mini Cooper head-on.
According to the State Patrol accident report, the Toyota driver — 75-year-old Marilyn Demarino of Asheville, North Carolina — and driver of the Mini Cooper — 30-year-old Tracy Ritter of Chattanooga, Tennessee — both sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Ambulances transported them to Anmed Healthcare in Anderson for treatment.
Rogers was airlifted to Prisma Healthcare in Greenville.
The wreck shut down both lanes of I-85 North for approximately three hours while wrecker services and hazmat teams worked to clear the scene.
