Cyclist left injured after hit-and-run on Hwy 17 in White County

Cyclist left injured after hit-and-run on Hwy 17 in White County

WHITE COUNTY, GA – A 23-year-old man was hospitalized with serious injuries after a hit-and-run collision last Saturday, June 22, in Sautee Nacoochee, according to Now Habersham.

The incident occurred on a stretch of State Highway 17 at Muscadine Drive, nearly six miles southeast of Helen.

A preliminary investigation indicates that the young man, was riding a bicycle in preparation for an upcoming triathlon when he was hit from the back by a vehicle driven by a 65-year-old Clarkesville woman, who was traveling with a 73-year-old male passenger, also of Clarkesville.

Following the impact, the woman drove away from the scene, but she and her passenger were later located by responding deputies, with help from witnesses who were able to chase down the fleeing car. The White County Sheriff’s Office said her vehicle was found with damage consistent with the collision.

Both the driver and passenger were charged with hit-and-run, but the driver faces a number of additional charges: “DUI, causing serious injury by vehicle, failure to report an accident, and failure to maintain lane.” While the female driver and male passenger were both booked and then released on a $2,500 bond, the former was taken back into custody on June 24 because of “failure to report an accident and injury by vehicle.” After being booked a second time, she was subsequently released on a bond of $6,000.

The family of the victim said he faces a long recovery.

Our compassionate team at Kaufman Injury Law is personally invested in helping families like yours fight for justice and maximum compensation after a painful motor vehicle event. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a recent bicycle crash caused by a reckless driver, we invite you to contact our office today at (404) 574-6974 or online to book a free initial consultation. Our Georgia bicycle accident lawyers are prepared to thoroughly investigate the incident and build a case for the outcome your deserve.