A violent, high-speed crash in Dillard claimed the lives of two women Monday afternoon and left a Buford man injured and facing numerous charges.
The wreck happened at 4:55 p.m. on Ga. 15/U.S. 441 at Cardinal Street, said Cpl. John Getty of Georgia State Patrol Post 7 in Toccoa.
The investigation revealed that a white 2015 Hyundai Sonata driven by Sergio Garcia, 19, of Buford was traveling south on Ga. 15/U.S. 441 at a high rate of speed, Getty said.
“A Dillard police officer checked Mr. Garcia’s speed to be 98 mph just prior to the crash,” Getty said in a statement.
The front of Garcia’s Hyundai struck the rear of a maroon 2016 Chevrolet Trax. After impact, both vehicles came to rest in the roadway.
The Chevrolet driver, Donna Verlyn McConnell, 60, of Clayton, and the Chevrolet passenger, Lorie Jeanne Smathers, 52, of Otto, N.C., had to be extricated from the vehicle due to damage and died at the scene due to their injuries, Getty said.
Garcia was airlifted from the scene to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta.
Garcia is charged by GSP with two counts of first-degree vehicular homicide, driving under the influence, open container, speeding, following too closely, and reckless driving, according to Getty.
GSP Post 7 is being assisted in the investigation by the Troop B Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team.
Dillard is located in northern Rabun County, near the North Carolina line.
