Two men died in a head-on collision during the Monday morning rush on Cleveland Highway (US 129/SR 11) hour south of Clermont.
Georgia State Patrol Sgt. Auston Allen said in an email statement that 56-year-old William Simmemon of Alto was traveling northbound on the highway in a 2002 Mitsubishi Gallant when he attempted to negotiate a right hand curve near Walden Pond Road. Allen said Simmemon failed to maintain his lane of travel and drove into the southbound lane, hitting a 2009 Ford Escape being driven by 61-year-old Samuel Osborn of Hiawassee. Both men died in the crash.
Allen said a passenger in Osborn's vehicle, 54-year-old Vivian Osborn of Hiawassee, was critically injured; she was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville for treatment.
The fatal crash happened at 7:25 a.m.
Cleveland Highway was closed for more than two hours while troopers investigated the accident.
