Charges Pending in Wednesday Accident

Charges are still pending on a Wednesday three-vehicle accident in Stephens County.

It occurred at 5:44 p.m. on Georgia Highway 17 at its intersection with Eastanollee By-pass. That is in front of the Eastanollee Volunteer Fire Department.

According to the Toccoa post of the Georgia State Patrol, a 2007 Ford Edge driven by 57-year-old Jackie Leigh Smith of Carnesville was stopped on Highway 17 due to traffic, while a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado K150 driven by 53-year-old Rocky Maurice Murdock of Toccoa was headed south on 17.

The GSP said Murdock swerved to the left to avoid striking Smith’s vehicle that was stopped.

However, troopers said the front right side of Murdock’s vehicle struck Smith’s in its left rear side.

Then, the report stated Murdock’s vehicle crossed the centerline and struck a 2005 Chevrolet Cargo Van driven by 42-year-old Michael Adam Collins of Bethlehem that was traveling north on Highway 17 head-on.

Murdock and Collins were both taken to Anderson Medical Center with what the GSP called non-incapacitating injuries.

Meanwhile, the GSP said Smith and two passengers in that vehicle, 31-year-old Matthew Allen Smith of Toccoa and 32-year-old Candice Brooke Smith of Lavonia were all taken to Stephens County Hospital with non-incapacitating injuries.