TOCCOA — A wreck Friday afternoon injured an Oconee County, S.C., man and shut down U.S. 123 (Ga. 365) near the South Carolina line in Stephens County for about 90 minutes.
The single-vehicle crash about 3 p.m. involved a 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 driven by Clarence Michael Dodson, 64, of Westminster was traveling east on Ga. 365 (U.S. 123) between Toccoa and Westminster, S.C., according to Sr. Trooper Jason Stephens of Georgia State Patrol Post 7 in Toccoa.
Dodson’s truck “basically ran off the roadway, down an embankment, struck several trees and overturned onto the driver’s side,” Stephens said.
Stephens County emergency personnel had to use extrication equipment to free Dodson from the truck, which was located some 40 feet off the roadway, according to Stephens.
A medical helicopter was dispatched and landed at the wreck scene, but was unable to transport due to a mechanical issue, according to a social media post by Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley.
Dodson, who suffered lower extremity injuries, was taken by Stephens County ambulance to Northeast Georgia Medical Center for treatment.
Stephens said Dodson appeared to be wearing his seatbelt at the time of the wreck, and impairment is not suspected.
The wreck kept the road shut down until 4:38 p.m., Stephens said.
