The woman injured in a wreck Friday night on Hills Crossing Road north of Clarkesville has been identified as Story Lawrence of Cornelia. Lawrence was the passenger in a 2014 Jeep that overturned in a ditch near the intersection of Hills Crossing and Historic Highway 441.
The Jeep was traveling northbound on Hills Crossing when, according to the Georgia State Patrol (GSP), “The driver took his eyes off the roadway to reach for a fallen drink and allowed the vehicle to exit the northbound lane.”
The Jeep traveled onto the east shoulder of the road where the right front wheel struck a driveway embankment. The vehicle traveled over the driveway and overturned. It came to rest in the east ditch, on its top, facing south.
Loud ‘bang’
Lynn Talent lives near the accident site. She says she heard a loud ‘bang’ and went outside to see what it was. That’s when she saw the overturned Jeep in the ditch and called 911.
The driver of the Jeep, identified as John Boland of Cornelia, was not injured. Witnesses say a puppy in the vehicle also escaped unharmed.
Lawrence was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center for treatment of her injuries.
Seen it before
T.J. Wilson has family who used to live nearby. He says that section of Hills Crossing is notoriously bad for accidents.
“There’s always wrecks right here,” Wilson says. “I don’t know why, but something about that curve and the way it drops off. Everybody hits this driveway and then comes across. I actually got behind one one time. Two girls hit it and flipped around right here.”
Wilson adds, “It’s been that way for years.”
Fire and Rescue units along with Clarkesville Police, Habersham County deputies and GSP responded to the wreck. Traffic was detoured as crews worked to clear the scene.
(photos/Daniel Purcell)
