Driver falls asleep, crashes near Soque River

A driver admitted to falling asleep while driving resulting in a wreck on SR 197 north of Batesville on Tuesday May 14. (Rob Moore/Habersham County)

A pick-up truck driver escaped injury when he fell asleep at the wheel and wrecked near the Soque River north of Batesville.

Habersham County E-911 dispatched emergency crews to the scene near Meadowview Ridge at around 2:15 p.m. Tuesday, May 14. Initial reports were for a rollover wreck where the vehicle landed in the Soque River. However, on arrival, firefighters found the truck in a field near the river.

According to the Georgia State Patrol, John Chapman of Clarkesville was driving the Toyota Tacoma north on GA 197 when the pickup ran off the road in a curve. The pickup traveled down an embankment and overturned. It came to rest in a grassy field. State troopers say Chapman complained of injuries but was not transported for treatment.

The State Patrol report also states Chapman told troopers he had not been sleeping well recently and fell asleep while driving.

Troopers cited him for failure to maintain lane.

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