The Georgia State Patrol’s Specialized Accident Reconstruction Team (SART) is trying to figure out exactly what caused the wreck last Wednesday night that killed two Madison County residents and injured five other people.
According to the Georgia State Patrol, a 1999 Mercury Cougar traveling east on Hwy. 326 pulled into the path of a 2006 Chevy Tahoe SUV traveling north on U.S. 441, causing the SUV to T-bone the smaller vehicle.
Jackson County coroner Keith Whitfield said Shane Kennedy, 22, of Danielsville and Laura Ashley Epps, 19, of Hull, were killed at the scene. Both were passengers in the Cougar, which was driven by Tiffany Dicara, 20, of Hull.
Cody Bishop, 22, of Blairsville, also a passenger in the Cougar, was reportedly critically injured. He and Dicara were transported to Athens Regional Medical Center, according to the Georgia State Patrol.
All three occupants of the Tahoe were transported with visible injuries to St. Mary’s Hospital. They included the driver, Thomas Gearing, 38, Jennifer Gearing, 33, and Haley Fricks, 10, all of Hull.
Wednesday’s accident was just the latest at the intersection of Hwy. 326 and U.S. 441, Whitfield noted.
“There have been several fatalities at that location, five to eight right there,” he said.
No charges have been filed pending completion of the SART investigation.