Two-vehicle wreck outside Toccoa claims life of one, hurts two others

By: Rob Moore, AccessWDUN

A Dahlonega man faces charges after a two-vehicle wreck that claimed the life of his brother-in-law near Toccoa Saturday morning.

According to Sr. Trooper John Crawford of Georgia State Patrol Post 7, in Toccoa, Anwar S. Rathore, 20, of Dahlonega, was driving a Mercedes-Benz 300D south on Ga. 17 in the left turn lane at Jeanette Jamieson Intersection when he turned in front of an oncoming vehicle.

As Rathore’s car turned left toward Toccoa, it was struck in the passenger side by a Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by Ruth Jimenz Rhodes, 67, of Crawfordville that was headed north toward Habersham County.

Crawford said the wreck happened about 9:55 a.m. and claimed the life of John-Michael Wayne Vega, 28, of Dahlonega.

Vega was a passenger in the Mercedes-Benz driven by his brother-in-law.

Rathore suffered visible, non-life-threatening injuries and was taken by ambulance to Northeast Georgia Medical Center.

Rhodes also suffered visible injuries and was taken by ambulance to Stephens County Hospital.

The Georgia Department of Public Safety Troop B Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team is conducting an independent investigation of the crash.

Crawford said charges are pending against Rathore.