BALDWIN — The Georgia State Patrol reports the driver of a tractor-trailer that overturned on Ga. 365 early Friday said he swerved to miss an animal then another vehicle immediately before the crash.
The wreck happened around 5 a.m. and shut down all lanes of Ga. 365 in both directions, as well as all side roads and businesses between Duncan Bridge Road and Alto-Mud Creek Road. The highway reopened just before 3 p.m.
The tractor-trailer truck, transporting about 9,000 gallons of gasoline, was traveling north on Ga. 365 in the left lane, according to Trooper 1st Class J. Tucker of GSP Post 7 in Toccoa.
"The driver of [the truck] stated that a deer ran out in front of him," according to Tucker. "The driver stated he swerved into the right lane to miss the deer and came up behind a garbage truck. The driver of [the truck] stated he applied his brakes and swerved left to avoid impact. [The truck] ran off the raodway left into the median and overturned."
The truck overturned into the median of Ga. 365, facing north.
"The driver of [the truck] failed to maintain his lane," according to Tucker.
Though in the median, because of the gasoline in the tanker Ga. 365 and all side roads accessing it between Duncan Bridge Road (Ga. 384) and Alto-Mud Creek Road were closed.
Baldwin Fire Department, Habersham County Emergency Services and law enforcement agencies responded to the reported roll-over crash near McDonald & Cody Law Firm just after 5 a.m., according to Habersham County Emergency Services Director Chad Black.
Baldwin Fire, Habersham County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Department of Transportation and other agencies remained on scene throughout the day while the gasoline was offloaded from the tanker so the truck could be removed, Baldwin City Manager Jerry Neace said.
Baldwin Police Department called in all its officers to assist with handling resulting traffic and road closures, Neace said.
The truck driver was transported by Habersham Emergency Services to Northeast Georgia Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, Black said.
The road closure meant the Friday closure of Hayes Automotive of Baldwin, Swinehart’s, convenience stores, restaurants and other businesses in the affected area.
