An afternoon crash along I-85 in Franklin County has left two people with injuries, one life flighted to Gainesville with life-threatening conditions.
Georgia State Patrol (GSP) responded to a two vehicle crash on Interstate 85 southbound just before 4:30 p.m. Thursday, at mile marker 160 in Franklin County. Troopers from Post 52 (Hartwell) responded to find a white 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter passenger van was traveling behind a gray 2023 Freightliner tractor trailer in the right lane.
The GSP report says while the Freightliner was stopped for traffic ahead, the front of Mercedes-Benz struck the rear trailer of the Freightliner in the southbound right lane. The Mercedes driver, 35-year old Nermin Nakic of Dacula, had to be extricated and was subsequently life flighted to Northeast Georgia Medical Center (Gainesville Campus) with serious injuries. The driver of the Freightliner, 44-year old Jovanny Mary Martinez of Columbus, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was not transported by medical personnel. Both lanes of Interstate 85 Southbound were closed for approximately an hour and a half for lifeflight to land and the roadway to be cleared by emergency personnel.
No impairment was suspected, and Nakic will be charged with following too close upon his release from the hospital.
