A pedestrian was seriously injured when he darted out in front of a vehicle south of Clarkesville, state troopers say.
The collision happened shortly before 1 p.m. on August 16 on GA 197 South near Mize Road. Troopers from Georgia State Patrol Post 7 investigated the crash. According to their preliminary report, Stephen Mizell of Lula was walking along the right shoulder of the highway as a southbound Toyota Tacoma approached.
“The pedestrian darted in front of the Toyota Tacoma and the front passenger side of the vehicle struck the pedestrian,” the report states.
Habersham County Emergency Services personnel and Clarkesville firefighters responded to the scene. Several units from the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office and Clarkesville Police Department assisted.
“Units arrived quickly and immediately requested an air ambulance to meet them at Hillside Memorial Chapel and Gardens across from Roper Drive,” says county PIO Rob Moore.
AirLife paramedics flew the 32-year-old Mizell to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville for treatment.
18-year-old Adrian Martinez of Clarkesville was driving the pickup truck that was involved in the crash. The vehicle was carrying four passengers, including an 8-month-old infant and a toddler. The collision did not injure anyone in the pickup. State troopers did not charge Martinez.
This is the second serious-injury pedestrian crash in Habersham County within a week.
On August 10, troopers say Mark Shepard of Marietta stepped into traffic on GA 385 at Midway Crossing in Cornelia and was hit by a van. He was taken to the hospital in serious condition. The driver was not charged.
