A Habersham Central High School linebacker is hospitalized and a Toccoa man died of injuries as a result of a wreck on Ga. 17 Alternate (Talmadge Drive) near the Stephens County line Monday.
A 2009 Jeep Wrangler driven by Charles Hadden Carswell, 17, of Toccoa was southbound on Ga. 17 Alternate south of Glore Road and crossed the double yellow centerline into the northbound lane, said Sgt. C.J. Coffee of Georgia State Patrol Post 7 in Toccoa.
The Jeep struck a 2008 Ford Econoline van driven by Hayward Cochran Jr., 65, of Toccoa, in the driver’s side front with its driver’s side front, Coffee said. The Jeep rotated counterclockwise while traveling off the west shoulder of the roadway. The van rotated counterclockwise while traveling off the east shoulder.
The van overturned while traveling down the embankment and came to rest on its top facing south on the east side of the roadway, Coffee said.
“Mr. Cochran was killed instantly as a result of the crash,” said Habersham County Coroner Kasey McEntire. “His body was taken to the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office in Decatur for further examination. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families at this difficult time.”
Carswell, a junior at Habersham Central, is a linebacker for the Habersham Central Raiders and plays varsity baseball. He was taken by ambulance to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, where he underwent surgery.
The wreck happened just before 6 p.m., Coffee said.
