One dead, one seriously injured following car chase near Helen

By Rob Moore Access WDUN

One driver died and another was arrested after allegedly fleeing from a Georgia state trooper in Union and White counties Saturday morning.

Trooper 1st Class Matheson from GSP Post 27 Blue Ridge was patrolling the Blood Mountain and Richard Russell Scenic Bypass area when he attempted to pull over two cars that were speeding on Ga. 348 (Richard Russell Scenic) near Lone Piper Road in Union County.

As Matheson attempted to catch up to the two vehicles with his emergency lights and sirens activated, both vehicles failed to stop resulting in a pursuit, says Sgt. B.D. Taylor of Post 27. The vehicles that were fleeing, a silver 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer and a black 2015 Dodge Challenger, continued fleeing southeast on Ga. 348 into White County.  

When the vehicles reached Ga. 75 Alternate,  both vehicles turned northbound, Taylor said. 

At the intersection of Ga. 75 Alternate and Ga. 17, the black Dodge Challenger turned south (right) and the silver Mitsubishi Lancer turned north (left).  

Matheson continued pursuing the Mitsubishi Lancer northbound on State Route 17.  

As the vehicle attempted to negotiate a curve to the right at a very high rate of speed, it crossed the centerline and struck a Nissan Murano SUV head-on, Taylor said.

The fleeing Mitsubishi came to a final rest over the guardrail at the bottom of the embankment.  

After coming to rest in the road, the Murano was lightly struck in the passenger side door area by a third vehicle.

The driver of the fleeing vehicle succumbed to his injuries at Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Taylor said.  

The driver of the Murano received serious injuries and was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center as a result of being struck by the fleeing car, Taylor said.

The GSP Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team was requested to assist in the investigation. 

The wreck happened shortly after 11 a.m.

While GSP was on the scene of the crash between the Mitsubishi and Nissan, Helen Police Department notified GSP that the black Dodge Challenger had crashed inside the city. Matheson took charges on that individual. 

Names of all involved are being withheld at this time due to the ongoing investigation, Taylor says. Notification of family is pending.

More details will be released later.