CLAYTON - The driver of a 1991 Toyota half-ton pickup involved in a fatal Rabun County wreck that was discovered Saturday morning now faces charges.<br />
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Trooper 1st Class Jesse Lewis of Georgia State Patrol Post 7 in Toccoa provided details.<br />
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Crystal Lynn Conard, 35, of Murphy, N.C., is charged with first-degree vehicular homicide, driving under the influence, failure to maintain lane, and serious injury by vehicle in connection with the wreck, Lewis said.<br />
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Conard's truck was traveling westbound on Georgia 2 (U.S. Highway 76 West) about three miles from the Towns/Rabun County line.<br />
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The vehicle traveled across the roadway, sideswiped a guardrail with its driver's side, then traveled off a cliff, overturning several times and ejecting 41-year-old Eric Scott Turner of Murphy, N.C.<br />
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Turner was airlifted from the scene to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, where he remained in the intensive care unit Saturday night, Lewis said.<br />
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The truck came to rest on its right side facing west against a tree that was holding it up, Lewis said.<br />
John Richard Stewart, 52, of Topton, N.C., the front-seat passenger, died at the scene.<br />
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"Supposedly this wreck happened during the night," Lewis said.<br />
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Lewis said Conard estimated the wreck happened around 2 a.m. Saturday, but it wasn't reported until she climbed up the mountain and was discovered along the highway about 9:30 a.m.<br />
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Conard was injured and was taken by ambulance to Mountain Lakes Medical Center, then diverted to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Lewis said.<br />
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Lewis said Conard is charged with citations until he obtains warrants Sunday.<br />
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The GSP Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team is conducting an independent investigation of the crash.
