NGMC president faces DUI charge

GAINESVILLE - The president of Northeast Georgia Medical Center faces a DUI charge in connection with a single-vehicle accident late last month.

The Georgia State Patrol said troopers were called to a crash around 1:40 a.m. Saturday, October 27 on Mount Vernon Road near Shirley Road. The investigating trooper said he found a 2007 Jeep Wrangler Sahara that had hit a DOT sign, a mailbox and a culvert pipe.

The trooper said he smelled alcohol and performed a field sobriety test on the driver, identified as Brad Nurkin. Nurkin reportedly refused a blood test and was arrested and charged with DUI, failure to maintain lane and no proof of insurance.

A statement from North Georgia Health System said that Nurkin immediately notified administration after the incident.

The statement said, "NGHS does not condone driving under the influence under any circumstances. NGHS recognizes this is a personal, legal issue that Brad is working through."

Nurkin was named president of NGMC in August.