Two school-aged girls were injured this morning when the car they were in collided with a pickup truck on GA 365. The accident happened around 7:55 a.m. at the intersection of GA 365 and Demorest-Mt. Airy Highway.
Georgia State Patrol Trooper Jason Stephens says 17-year old Jaritsa Garcia of Cornelia was attempting to turn left onto Demorest-Mt. Airy Highway from the northbound turn lane of GA 365 when she ran into the path of a southbound pickup truck.
The 2010 Honda Civic Garcia was driving struck the left front of the 2012 Ford pickup driven by 55-year old Lonnie English of Clayton. After impact, the pickup traveled off the west shoulder of the road and struck a guardrail.
Garcia and a 13-year old passenger in the car, Yareli Ramirez of Cornelia, both suffered lower extremity injuries. They were transported to Habersham County Medical Center by ambulance. Trooper Stephens says both girls were conscious when they were taken to the hospital.
English complained of injury but was not transported, Stephens says.
Garcia is charged with failure to yield while making a left turn.
The wreck shut down part of GA 365 near Wilbanks Middle and Demorest Elementary Schools for more than half an hour. Stephens says the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office and Demorest Police Department helped ease the morning rush hour congestion by providing traffic control.
The accident scene was cleared up shortly after 8:30 a.m.
