2-vehicle wreck west of Clarkesville sends driver to hospital

Habersham County deputies direct traffic on Hwy. 17 west of Clarkesville after a wreck on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)

Habersham County Emergency Services transported one person to the hospital after a two-vehicle wreck on Highway 17 west of Clarkesville.

The Tuesday afternoon wreck, involving a Volkswagen Jetta and Nissan Altima, happened just before 4 p.m. near the Winding Stair subdivision.

According to the Georgia State Patrol, both vehicles were traveling north on Hwy. 17 when the Jetta stopped to turn left into a driveway. Troopers say the Altima was following too closely and rear-ended the Jetta, injuring its driver and passenger.

A Volkswagen Jetta straddles a culvert after being spun around during a wreck on SR 17 at Winding Stair Road. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)
A Nissan Altima sustained front-end damage during the wreck on SR 17 at Winding Stair Road. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)

An ambulance transported 28-year-old Madison Miller of Clarkesville to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Demorest with minor injuries. Her passenger, 27-year-old Chase Blakley of Grovetown, also sustained possible minor injuries but was not transported to the hospital.

State troopers charged the Altima driver, 26-year-old Ashley Lewallen of Toccoa, with following too closely and a tire violation.