High Winds Cause Busy Weekend

Before the ice storm moved into the area, high winds created a very busy weekend for Law Enforcement, Fire, and Safety crews in Rabun County, says Fire Chief Daniel Johnson…

“It was very busy, we ran all day and night, mostly wind and power-lines down, which caused woods fires, some of them small, some of them large, and we had one structure fire that lasted about 3 hours.”

Crews fought brush fires on Green Shutters Rd., Warwoman, Saddleback Cr., Forester Dr, Battle Branch Ln, Hwy 28 North, and an apartment fire on Dunlap that was contained to one unit, with another receiving heavy water damage. Johnson was very proud of the work his crews did over the weekend…

“I think they done very well, very, very well.”

Sheriff’s Officers and Georgia State Patrol also responded to a severe wreck on Hwy 441 in Mountain City, says Captain Mark Jones…

“The accident occurred early Sunday morning, around 1:22. It was a single car, motor vehicle crash. The vehicle was traveling southbound, and in the area of Shepard Street the driver lost control and struck a telephone pole. As a result of that accident there was one fatality.”

23 year old Julisa Alexander  of Seneca, SC, was lost  to the wreck, the driver, 24 year old Michael Trenton Thomas, also of Seneca, was transported to the Hospital with injuries, and has been charged with Homicide by Vehicle in the 2nd Degree- misdemeanor, and failure to maintain lane.  An overturned vehicle was also reported on 76 East with no injuries.