Habersham County teen charged in fatal wreck that claimed life of Toccoa businessman earlier this year

The Georgia State Patrol has charged a Habersham County teenager in the wreck that claimed the life of Toccoa businessman earlier this year.

Charles Hadden Carswell, 17, of Toccoa, turned himself in at the Habersham County Detention Center Friday on charges of second-degree homicide by vehicle and failure to maintain lane.

According to GSP Post 7 Sgt. C.J. Coffee, Carswell was driving a 2009 Jeep Wrangler that crossed the double yellow centerline on Ga. 17 Alternate (Talmadge Drive) south of Glore Road and collided with a 2008 Ford Econoline van driven by Hayward Cochran Jr., 65, of Toccoa on Feb. 24.

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.

Cochran died instantly in the crash.

Cochran, a lifelong resident of Toccoa, was the owner of Cochran’s Cleaning Services and had clients throughout the North Georgia area.

WNEG News will continue following this story and bring you additional details as they are released.