A Dewy Rose man died Sunday morning after a two-vehicle wreck on Georgia Highway 17 near Hewell Road in Elbert County.
Troopers from Post 52 in Hartwell were called to the accident shortly after 5 a.m. and found Micah Orlanden Isiah Blackwell, 19, dead at the scene.
According to a press release from the Georgia State Patrol, an investigation revealed a black 2016 Chevrolet Silverado was traveling southbound on Georgia Highway 17. A silver 2016 Hyundai Elantra was traveling northbound on Georgia Highway 17.
The Silverado then traveled across the centerline and struck the front of the Elantra in the northbound lane. The Silverado came to an uncontrolled final rest on its top in the northbound lane of Georgia Highway 17. The Elantra came to an uncontrolled final rest off the east shoulder.
The driver of the Silverado, Jose Ricardo Napoles Mende, 33, of Elberton, was transported by Elbert County EMS to the Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville Campus with serious injuries.
Mende is suspected to have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. He faces a list of pending charges including homicide by vehicle in the 1st degree, DUI, failure to maintain lane and driving while unlicensed.
The Troop B Specialized Collison Reconstruction Team (SCRT) is assisting with this crash investigation. The family of the deceased has been notified at this time.
