Two Wrecks Claim Three Lives Sunday Afternoon

Interstate 85 traffic in Franklin County is back to normal following a grizzly accident Sunday afternoon.  The wreck occurred around 5:00 on the northbound side just past Exit 160, Highway 51 (Old Federal Road).  According to Corporal William Jordan with the Georgia State Patrol, traffic on the northbound side was already slowed down ahead of what was to become the accident scene.  An 18-wheeler had come to a complete stop.  A Jeep Wrangler carrying three occupants drove up upon the tractor trailer going interstate speeds.  Williams says the driver appeared to swerve to the right to avoid a collision.  But it was too late as the front leftside of the Jeep hit the back rightside of the tractor trailer.  Other motorists who stopped were able to rescue one of the Jeep occupants.  The occupant was taken to Gainesville with non-life-threatening injuries.  Williams says the other two occupants appeared to die on impact.  Moments after the collission, a fire broke out in the engine block of the Jeep destroying the vehicle and most of the trailer.  The driver of the 18-wheeler was able to unhook his cab and pull a few hundred feet ahead of the accident.  Williams says he does not expect any charges against the driver of the tractor trailer.  Traffic on the northbound side of Interstate 85 was shut down until a little before 9:00 Sunday night.  Franklin County Coroner Scott O’Barr says the names of the vicitims will not be released until the bodies are positively identified.

This is now the second major accident in exactly a week at the same spot.  A week ago Sunday afternoon, a tractor trailer overturned leaking a chemical.  Interstate 85 was also shut down for several hours and nearby homes and businesses were evacuated until the scene could be cleaned up.

In other news, one person is dead following a Sunday night motorcycle accident.  The accident occurred around 7:00 at Jackson Bridge Road and Carroll Church Road just outside of Carnesville.  We do not know the cause of the accident at this time nor the name of the deceased.  We will let you know more when we find out.