Driver Ejected in Serious Wreck Involving Commercial Vehicle on White County Scenic Highway

On the evening of October 29, 2024, at approximately 9:30 PM, White County 911 Communications received a report of a large commercial vehicle wreck on Richard Russell Scenic Highway. Initial information indicated that the driver had been ejected from the vehicle upon impact.

First responders from the Helen Fire Department, White County Fire Services, White County Sheriff’s Office, White County EMS, Georgia State Patrol, and the Georgia Department of Public Safety’s Motor Carrier Compliance Division responded to the scene. The caller who reported the accident to White County 911 was able to guide first responders to the location.

Upon arrival, units found a tractor-trailer flatbed truck approximately 100 yards off the roadway. The sole occupant of the vehicle was treated at the scene and transported by White County EMS to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville.

Due to the size of the vehicle and the extent of the wreck, Payne’s Wrecker Service and their Emergency Spill Response Team were dispatched to assist. The Georgia State Patrol and the Georgia Department of Public Safety’s Motor Carrier Compliance Division are continuing their investigation into the accident and the events leading up to it. The commercial vehicle involved was operated by Tomahawk Crane and Rigging of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

As of 1:30 PM on October 30, 2024, Richard Russell Scenic Highway remains closed to traffic as crews work to clear the scene. The following agencies responded to the incident: