A wreck Saturday morning east of Clarkesville claimed the life of a 22-year-old Mt. Airy man. The Georgia State Patrol has identified the deceased driver as Francisco Matias.
The accident happened on Highway 17/Toccoa Highway near Jess Kinney Road. It was reported to 911 as a rollover wreck just before 9 a.m. on Nov. 18.
According to the Georgia State Patrol, Matias was negotiating a curve in a Hyundai Veloster and lost control of the car in a curve.
The vehicle traveled off the west shoulder of the highway, where it struck a mailbox and a ditch. This caused it to vault across Jess Kinney Road. The vehicle then rolled several times up an embankment, ejecting Matias from the vehicle.
He died at the scene.
State troopers from Georgia State Patrol Post 7 in Toccoa investigated the wreck. They say Matias was wearing his seat belt, but it broke during the crash.
The accident temporarily shut down the section of highway near the crash site as law enforcement investigated and crews cleared the scene.
