It was a Friday traffic nightmare for travelers on US 441/GA 15 in north Habersham. Southbound traffic in Rabun County didn’t fare any better. Traffic was stalled for more than four hours by a tractor trailer wreck in Tallulah Falls.
The truck was traveling south on US 441/GA 15 when the driver lost control in a curve and overturned, according to Georgia State Trooper Joseph Tucker with Patrol Post 7 in Toccoa. The overturned rig blocked all four lanes of the highway.
Crews at the crash scene worked for hours to clear the wreckage, clean up the oil and gas spill, and remove the truck’s oversized freight from the roadway.
Two lanes reopened around 3:40 p.m. North and southbound traffic was directed through alternating lanes. With cars backed up for miles, many drivers sat for hours waiting to get through.
Around 4 p.m. law enforcement responded to a second wreck on US 441 North/GA 15 near the intersection with Travis Smith Road.
By 5:20 p.m. both wrecks were cleared and all lanes were reopened. By 6 p.m. the congestion had cleared.
The backup did not delay tonight’s state high school football playoff game in Rabun County, although some fired up fans were left to cool their heels in the traffic tie-up.
No official word at this time on whether there were any injuries or what caused the wreck. It happened in the same curve that’s notorious for upending big rigs in Tallulah Falls. A similar wreck last year injured three people and tied up traffic along the highway for hours.
Photos courtesy: Lakes Fire and Rescue Rabun County Station 10
