Injuries Reported in Major Monday Wreck

Authorities say a Toccoa man was airlifted to Northeast Georgia Medical Center with serious injuries after a three-car accident Monday afternoon.

It occurred on U.S. Highway 123, near Cawthon Road, just before 3 p.m. Monday.

According to the Toccoa post of the Georgia State Patrol, 78-year-old Ray Lynn Starling of Toccoa was driving a 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid that was one of three cars involved in the accident.

He was airlifted while his passenger, 73-year-old Elizabeth Starling of Toccoa, was initially taken to Stephens County Hospital with what authorities termed as non-incapacitating injuries.

The two other vehicles involved were a 2007 Mack 700 CTP 700 driven by 52-year-old Steve Justin Griffith of Carlton, Georgia, and a 2005 Kenworth Construction Truck driven by 55-year-old Freddie Lee Smith of Forest Park, Georgia.

Smith was also taken to Stephens County Hospital with what the GSP called non-incapacitating injuries.

The accident closed U.S. 123 for a time while the wreck was cleaned up on Monday.

According to the GSP, the Mack Truck was headed north on Highway 123 while the other two vehicles were headed south towards the Jeanette Jamieson Intersection and the Toccoa By-pass.

The GSP says the Mack Truck crossed the centerline and sideswiped the Kenworth construction truck, causing the Kenworth truck to run off the shoulder and down an embankment before overturning on its right side and beginning to leak oil.

Meanwhile, the Mack Truck then hit the Camry head on.

There is no word on any charges in the accident at this time.

The GSP says the driver of the Mack Truck says his vehicle shut off and he lost power steering.