BALDWIN, Ga. — A Baldwin man was involved in a crash Wednesday night when a vehicle fleeing law enforcement crossed into oncoming traffic on Duncan Bridge Road, according to the Georgia State Patrol.
Georgia State Patrol Public Information Officer Courtney Lund said a Dodge Charger driven by an unidentified suspect was traveling westbound on Ga. 384 while fleeing from an unmarked Banks County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle with its emergency equipment activated.
At the same time, a Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by 66-year-old Baldwin resident Edward Crawford was traveling eastbound on Ga. 384.
According to the preliminary investigation, the driver of the Dodge Charger failed to maintain the vehicle’s lane, crossed into the eastbound lane and struck the driver’s side of Crawford’s Jeep with the front of the Charger.
After the collision, the Dodge Charger continued westbound and left the scene, Lund said.
The Jeep came to a controlled final rest partially off the roadway.
The crash occurred during a pursuit that began in Banks County and later sparked a large law enforcement search in the Baldwin area.
According to the Banks County Sheriff’s Office, investigators were conducting a narcotics investigation near Nix Road when they attempted to stop a black Dodge Charger. Authorities said the vehicle fled into Habersham County before investigators lost sight of it on Duncan Bridge Road.
Banks County officials later reported that the Charger nearly struck a Baldwin Police Department patrol vehicle before crashing near the intersection of Duncan Bridge Road and Ga. 365. Four occupants then fled the vehicle on foot, prompting a multi-agency manhunt involving the Banks County Sheriff’s Office, Habersham County Sheriff’s Office, Baldwin Police Department and other agencies.
Investigators said narcotics were recovered from the Charger.
As of Thursday, one suspect was in custody at the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office. Banks County authorities said three additional suspects had been identified but their names were not being released because the investigation remains active.
Authorities have said there is no indication of an ongoing threat to the public.
The Georgia State Patrol’s investigation into the crash remains active. Information regarding any injuries sustained in the collision was not immediately available.
