A 90-year-old Dillard woman was seriously injured and three others were hurt in a two-vehicle crash on GA 15/US 441 in Habersham County Monday afternoon.
The wreck occurred shortly after noon at the Antioch Church Road intersection.
The Georgia State Patrol’s preliminary crash investigation says Laura Ruth Brown, 44, of Toccoa, was driving a Buick LeSabre east on Antioch Church Road. State troopers say she failed to yield after stopping at the stop sign and pulled into the path of a southbound Kia Soul driven by Lary Van Scoy, 86, of Dillard. The Kia struck the front of the Buick.
After impact, the Kia traveled across the gore and northbound lanes of the highway and ended up on the shoulder of the road. Brown was trapped inside her wrecked vehicle in the southbound lanes of GA 15.
Brown’s 10-year-old daughter was riding in the car with her but was not trapped.
Habersham County Public Information Officer Rob Moore says a contractor for a local utility company was in the area and quickly secured the wreck scene and handled traffic control.
County emergency personnel used tools to remove both driver’s side doors from the Buick and free Brown from the wreckage.
The wreck seriously injured Aletha Van Scoy, who was traveling with her husband in the Kia. Both drivers and the young girl sustained minor injuries. Habersham EMS transported them by ambulance to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville.
The accident temporarily blocked both southbound lanes and partially blocked the northbound lanes of GA 15/US 441. All lanes reopened within an hour.
Public safety officials praised the utility workers for their quick response and help in securing the scene.
“We cannot say enough good things about the assistance provided to us by the crew from Traffic Troopers,” said Habersham County Emergency Services Battalion Chief Jason Garrett. “Anthony White and Marvin Hinton, who were passing through while working in the area, were among the first on scene and secured it to prevent further collisions. They also ensured the safe flow of traffic, so we were able to utilize all our local personnel for patient care. They remained with us until the road was cleared and handled traffic efficiently and professionally.”
