A collision at approximately 2:30 p.m. this afternoon, Monday, Sept. 29, between a Georgia State Patrol vehicle and a green Honda Element disrupted traffic at Cannon Bridge Road and Old Athens Highway in Cornelia as both vehicles were loaded onto tow trucks to be removed from the scene.
Three additional GSP units and two Habersham Sheriff’s vehicles responded to the accident.
The Honda Element’s right rear fender was severely crumpled, and the driver was transported to the hospital, according to GSP Sgt. Lunsford, who was the commanding officer on scene. Lunsford did not release the name of the driver of the Honda Element, but said she was the only occupant in the vehicle, and was “50-ish” in age. He said he was not aware if her injuries were serious, or if she had been transported to the hospital for observation only.
The GSP trooper who was driving the patrol vehicle was also the only occupant of that vehicle, which showed severe damage to the front left corner of the vehicle. Lunsford identified the officer as “Trooper Sanders.” Lunsford said Sanders had reported being “sore or stiff, with a little bit of an abrasion on his arm” following the collision.
“The preliminary report indicates it was ‘following too close,’” Lunsford said of the cause of the incident. When asked if speed was a factor in the patrol car striking the Honda, Lunsford responded “no.” Both vehicles were removed and the scene cleared by 3:30 p.m.
