Three wrecks in two days kept the crew of Dawson County Emergency Services busy last Thursday and Friday.
A head-on collision around lunchtime on Jan. 10 at the intersection of Hwy. 53 and Hwy. 183 (Elliott Family Parkway) resulted in two people being taken to area hospitals.
Andrew Dowd Jr., 65, from Knoxville, Tenn., was traveling onto Hwy. 53 from Hwy. 183 when his vehicle collided with the truck of Billy Tallant, 66, of Dawsonville.
Tallant was taken to North Fulton Hospital, while Dowd was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, both with upper-body injuries. Dowd was charged with failure to stop at a stop sign.
The second wreck occurred later in the evening on that same day, on Hwy. 53 W. near Hightower Parkway.
Kenneth Wayne Smith, 54, of Dawsonville, was charged in that wreck with DUI/alcohol, reckless driving, failure to maintain lane, seatbelt violation and headlight requirements.
Smith was traveling westbound on 53 when his vehicle traveled into the eastbound lane of traffic. His truck struck the left front of the second vehicle, driven by Albert Whitlock, 67, of Jefferson. Smith was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center for a chest injury, while Whitlock and his passenger, Sally Whitlock, were taken to Atlanta Medical Center for their injuries.
A third accident happened shortly before 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 11, on Hwy. 53 E. near Duck Thurmond Road. Only one car was involved.
Tito Ramirez-Puac, 22, from Canton, was charged with failure to maintain lane, tire requirements, driving while unlicensed or expired license, and obstructing or hindering law enforcement officers. It was raining at the time of the wreck.
Ramirez-Puac was unharmed. His passenger, Vanessa Estrada, was taken to Mountainside Medical Center with upper-body injuries.
Dawson County Emergency Services Director Billy Thurmond advised all drivers to pay attention while driving. It is very important that all drivers are familiar with the conditions and slow down to ensure that they reach their destination safely, he said.