A Rabun County jailer was sent to the hospital early Thursday after wrecking an unmarked county vehicle on US 441/GA 15.
According to the Georgia State Patrol, Anthony Ortega was attempting to turn left onto the highway from Panther Creek Lane when he pulled into the path of a northbound utility van.
The Chevrolet Express G3500 struck the Ford Taurus on the driver’s side. After impact, the Taurus ran off the east shoulder of the highway. The van came to rest on the west shoulder in a ditch.
Habersham EMS transported the 22-year-old Ortega to Habersham Medical Center in Demorest with possible minor injuries.
The van driver, Mario Morin-Mendez, 48, of Auburn, Georgia, also sustained possible minor injuries but was not transported to the hospital. His passenger, Valdez Garcia, 37, also of Auburn, was uninjured.
Ortega, of Lakemont, is a jailer assigned to the Rabun County Detention Center, according to chief deputy Scott Cheek. He was driving an unmarked vehicle used to get sheriff’s office employees to and from classes.
A state trooper was dispatched to the scene of the wreck around 6:45 a.m. on October 19. The trooper gave Ortega a warning for failing to yield.
