Friday Crash in Lavonia Still Under Investigation

The Georgia State Patrol’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team (SCRT) is still investigating a crash that sent a Lavonia man to the hospital Friday.

 

According to Cpl William Jordan with the Georgia State Patrol Hartwell Post 52, at approximately 11:43 AM, Troopers from Post 52 Hartwell responded to a two-vehicle crash on Georgia 17 at the intersection of Myrtle Street in the city of Lavonia.

“A red 1998 Chevy pickup truck was traveling north on Georgia 17 when a 2011 Isuzu box truck, traveling south on Georgia 17 in the turning lane, attempted to turn left onto Myrtle Street,” Jordan said. “The pickup truck struck the box truck in the right rear with its front. The pickup then traveled off the roadway, struck a ditch, and overturned.”

Jordan said speed and impairment are suspected to be contributing factors for the driver of the Chevy pickup.

The driver of the Chevy truck, identified as 46-year-old Jason Youngblood of Lavonia, was transported by helicopter to Northeast Georgia Medical Center with critical injuries.

The driver and the passenger of the box truck, both from Lavonia, were not injured.

Highway 17 was closed for several hours as EMS and firefighters worked to extricate Youngblood from his vehicle and officers investigated.

Jordan said the crash is still under investigation.