An accident involving five cars in Forsyth County on Wednesday evening left one driver seriously injured. The accident happened on Matt Highway, just east of Old Etowah Drive.
A Dodge pickup truck, towing a 52 foot trailer loaded with heavy equipment and ladders, could not stop in time to avoid hitting stopped traffic in his lane. The driver tried hitting the brakes but was traveling down the hill too fast for the wet conditions of the roadway. The truck first hit a van, pushing it across center lines of oncoming traffic. This set off a chain reaction. The van was hit by a Toyota Camry, which then was pushed off the road and hit a mailbox. The driver of that Camry was seriously injured and had to be taken to a nearby hospital.
The pickup truck carrying the load of equipment hit a second vehicle in his attempt to stop, and several ladders he was carrying fell into the roadway, causing another car in the opposite lanes to swerve and hit the Toyota Camry, as well.
With the exception of the driver of the Camry, there were no other major injuries. One of the other drivers, the driver of the van that was first hit, did have some minor injuries, but nothing serious.
According to a statement from the Georgia State Patrol, it does not appear any of the drivers were under the influence and all of them were wearing seat belts. None of the cars had additional passengers.
The driver of the Dodge pickup truck, Justin Burnett, from Jasper, GA, is charged with driving too fast for conditions. It was raining at the time of the accident.
The van driver was also cited for not having a valid license.
All of the vehicles but one suffered crippling damage and all had to be towed from the scene.
