More Charges Possible in Fatal SR 77 Ext. Wreck

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

More charges could be leveled against the driver who plowed head on into a family vehicle Friday, killing a Franklin County couple and their 5-year old daughter.

Hart County Sheriff Mike Cleveland said Monday that Marco Hernandez remains hospitalized from injuries he received from the wreck.

The wreck happened at about 3:30 p.m. Friday on the State Route 77 Extension near the Lavonia Speedway.

Hernandez, who is from the Hartwell area, was under the influence when he crossed the center line near the Lavonia Speedway and hit the oncoming vehicle head on.

Dead at the scene were 48-year old Jerry Cannon, his wife, 32-year old Katherine Cannon, and their daughter, 5-year old Marie Cannon.

Cleveland said at this point, Hernandez faces charges of DUI and felony homicide by vehicle.

GSP Trooper Nic Johnson said Hernandez was also charged with driving with no license and reckless driving.

Johnson said the only ID for Hernandez indicated he is from Guatemala but had an address out of Doraville.

According to Cleveland, Hernandez was in Hart County working for a local nursery when he took the company van.

“He was driving a van that the owner of the van said he did not have permission to,” said Cleveland.

Cleveland said he also expects GSP to charge Hernandez with stealing the van.

Johnson said a blood tox screen was taken from Hernandez and sent to the GBI Crime Lab in Atlanta to determine his blood alcohol level at the time of the wreck.

Those results are not expected back for some weeks.

Meanwhile, the bodies of the Cannon family were also sent to the GBI Crime Lab for autopsy, according to Trooper Johnson.

Funeral arrangements for the Cannon’s have not yet been announced.