TOCCOA - The Georgia State Patrol has charged drivers in three crashes that injured a combined seven people on Georgia Highway 365 at Demorest-Mt. Airy Highway about 8:30 Saturday night.
Sunday afternoon, Trooper 1st Class Aaron Church provided names of those involved in the first two wrecks and the associated charges.
Church said in the first wreck a silver 2014 Ford Edge driven by 38-year-old James Arch of Cherokee, N.C., was traveling north on Georgia 365 in the right lane.
A silver 1999 Toyota 4Runner driven by 32-year-old Christine Xaykosy of Demorest was traveling west on Demorest-Mt. Airy Highway attempting to turn right or cross over Georgia 365. The Toyota 4Runner traveled into the path of the Ford Edge.
The Ford struck the left front of the Toyota with its right front. The Ford then traveled through the gore and came to rest in the southbound right turn lane facing southwest, Church said. The Toyota rotated and came to rest in the northbound lanes. Witness stated that the light was green for northbound traffic.
The second collision also involved Xaykosy's Toyota 4Runner.
A white 2008 Ford Explorer driven by 39-year-old Christopher Davidson of Clarkesville was traveling north on Georgia 365 in the left lane after the first crash and did not see the Toyota in the roadway. The Explorer then struck the Toyota on the left front with its front. The Explorer came to rest facing north in the northbound lane and the Toyota came to rest in the right northbound lane facing northwest.
Xaykosy was injured and was taken by ambulance to Northeast Georgia Medical Center for treatment of internal injuries, Church said. Her passengers, 12-year-old Jadelyn Xaykosy and 3-year-old Mark Phongsavanah, both suffered minor injuries and were taken by ambulance to NGMC.
Arch and his passenger, 60-year-old Paula Holloway from Cherokee, N.C., both suffered minor injuries and were taken by ambulance to Habersham Medical Center.
Davidson was taken by ambulance to NGMC for treatment of internal injuries. His passenger, 36-year-old Tiffany Davidson of Clarkesville, was taken to NGMC for treatment of minor injuries.
Christopher Davidson was charged with driving under the influence.
Christine Xaykosy was charged with failure to obey a traffic control device.
Minutes after the initial crashes, a third three-car collision occurred in the same area.
Sgt. 1st Class Chad Johnson said that wreck happened at 8:44 on Georgia 365 northbound in the right lane before Demorest-Mt. Airy Highway.
"As units arrived on scene of the initial crash, traffic was stopped prior to the intersection," Johnson said.
That's when a 1994 Ford Taurus driven by 55-year-old Terry Wood Yearwood of Martin failed to stop and struck the rear of a 2007 Honda Odyssey van driven by 57-year-old Tri Truong of Duluth. The impact forced the Honda to strike the rear of a 2009 Chevrolet HHR driven by 34-year-old Karen Godsoe of Toccoa.
The Chevrolet and Honda were stopped in the right northbound lane of Georgia 365.
Yearwood suffered a visible injury but refused treatment at the scene.
A female passenger in the Honda, 41-year-old Luu T. Truong of Duluth, complained of injuries to the torso area but refused treatment at the scene, Johnson said.
Yearwood was cited for following too closely, Johnson said.
