According to the police report, the driver of a cargo van was reportedly the catalyst for the crash. Details about the accident have not yet been fully reported, but it has been confirmed that nine vehicles were ultimately involved in the accident. The van ended up crashing into a restaurant around 1:30 p.m. Two people inside the restaurant were treated for minor injuries, but a city worker was also injured while trying to get out of the way of the van, and several other people were taken to local hospitals with injuries described as non-life-threatening.
The condition of the driver is unknown at the time. Police are still working to determine exactly what caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle, but they have not ruled out recklessness, negligence, and/or intoxication at the time of this report. While they have not filed charges against the driver, charges could still be forthcoming depending upon the outcome of the investigation.
Even if no formal charges are filed, the injured parties are entitled under Georgia state law to independently file personal injury suits against the driver. Such suits are filed in civil court and require evidence of negligence on the part of the driver with regard to the car accident. While criminal convictions and charges are not necessary to file such a suit, evidence from a police investigation can be used to support a claim in civil court.
Source: ajc.com, “Several injured in 7-car wreck in North Georgia,” Raisa Habersham, Aug. 14, 2017
