Georgia State Patrol has released preliminary details of a serious multi-vehicle crash at the intersection of Big A Road and Highway 123 that sent one man to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and left another with non-life-threatening injuries Wednesday, April 16.
The wreck involved five vehicles, including a commercial truck, and closed that portion of the road for several hours as crews worked the scene.
According to GSP, the collision occurred at 12:11 p.m. when a 2007 Ford Explorer, traveling north on Georgia 17 Alternate, failed to stop at a red light at the intersection. The SUV collided head-on with a 2016 Freightliner that was heading east through the intersection.
Authorities say the impact of the crash caused the Explorer to spin out and strike three other vehicles that were stopped at the red light: a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado, a 2020 Audi Q5 and a 2022 GMC Sierra.
The driver of the Freightliner, identified as 80-year-old Willie Hare, sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville. The driver of the Audi Q5 was transported to Stephens County Hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening.
Hare’s condition has not yet been released.
The crash remains under investigation by state troopers.
