Mustang, two semi trucks involved in crash that sends teen to Atlanta hospital

Yesterday morning, just before 11 a.m., Harley Brooks, 17, of Demorest, was airlifted to Grady Memorial Hospital for treatment of 1st- and 2nd-degree burns and other non-life threatening injuries following a wreck on State Route 17/365 near Trestle Ridge Road, a short distance north of the Jeanette Jamieson Intersection.

As reported by WNEG News yesterday, Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley advised WNEG that the collision involved a Mustang and two tractor trailer rigs. The crash shut down travel on the highway in both directions for close to 2 hours while law enforcement and fire officials worked to control the resulting vehicle fire and investigate and clear the scene. 

Yesterday evening, Georgia State Patrol Post 7 Toccoa released the incident report on the crash, which stated that Brooks was traveling north in the right lane of GA 365 and was allegedly following too closely behind a 2022 Kenworth T880, driven by Kevin Franklin, 44, of Suwanee, who was also traveling north in the right lane of GA 365.

According to the report, the Ford Mustang struck the Kenworth’s trailer in the rear left corner. The Ford Mustang then traveled into the left lane of GA 365, where it traveled underneath the trailer of a 1998 Peterbilt, driven by Johnny Lawson, 59, of Buchanan, Virginia, who was traveling northbound on GA 365. 

The tandem trailer tires of the Peterbilt ran over the Mustang.

As a result of the collision, the Mustang caught on fire and became fully engulfed. Brooks pulled himself out of the vehicle before first responders arrived, and was later evaluated by emergency medical services before being airlifted to the hospital for further treatment. 

Neither Lawson or Franklin were injured, and neither truck driver was cited in the incident. Brooks has been charged with Following to Closely.