A head-on collision just after noon on June 11 sent three area residents to nearby hospitals.

The wreck on Hwy. 9, north of Dawsonville, near Veterans Memorial Park, ended with two patients being airlifted to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta and a third taken by ambulance to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, according to Georgia State Patrol Spokeswoman Robin Stone.

"Vehicle one, a 1988 Ford pickup, failed to maintain lane and crossed the double yellow line and struck vehicle two, a 1998 Chrysler Concord," Stone said.

The driver of the truck, Brian Reed, 26 of Dawsonville, was pulled from the flaming vehicle by nearby resident Joseph Fink, along with a family member of the driver, who was following close behind him when he wrecked, and sheriff's deputies Jessica Craft and Donna Bennett.

"I was standing in my yard looking toward the road and I saw a truck swerving into the wrong side of the road. The truck had a head on collision with the Concord," Fink said. "The truck went up into flames as soon as it hit."

Fink said that he rushed to the scene to see if he could help the entrapped Reed.

"I couldn't get to him and the flames were hitting his face. Me and his father were trying to get him out but we couldn't do it," Fink said. "I had [my family] bring over a fire extinguisher and I put out as much as I could. By the time he was out of the vehicle, maybe two feet away from the car, the whole thing went up in flames. About that time, the fire department showed up."

Reed was initially listed in critical condition with serious burns, multiple broken bones and severe lacerations. He has been downgraded to serious condition as of press time, according to Stone.

The driver of the Concord, John Humphrey, 69, of Cumming, was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center by a mutual aid ambulance from Lumpkin County. According to Stone, Humphry suffered head injuries and is in serious condition but alert.

His passenger, Vivian Humphrey, 87, of Dawsonville, suffered a broken leg, pelvis, several broken ribs, as well as multiple lacerations.

She is currently in the intensive care unit at Grady Memorial Hospital, according to Stone.

"The passenger of the Concord was not wearing her seat belt, so she was thrown through the window of the vehicle on impact," Stone said.

The roadway was closed for several hours while Georgia State Patrol's Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team investigated the crash.

According to Stone, the investigation is still being conducted, with charges pending the results.

Stone also said that it has not been determined if drugs or alcohol were a factor in the crash.