5 Injured When Rear-End Collision Sends SUV Into Trees

GORDON COUNTY, GA -- Five people were hospitalized Tuesday morning after a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 75 in Gordon County. State troopers responded to the collision around 10:30 a.m. Dec. 26 on on the northbound side at Union Grove Road, which is situated between exits Ga. 140 and Ga. 53.

A preliminary report indicates a 2017 Nissan Pathfinder and 2007 Toyota Avalon were both traveling northbound in the middle lane when the Avalon rear-ended the SUV. This caused the Nissan to travel off the right side of the road and crash into two trees with the front and driver's side of the vehicle, said Georgia State Patrol Post 43 Commander Seth Thompson.

The driver of the Pathfinder, 38-year-old Jason Humphries of Lehigh Acres, Florida, was airlifted to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga. Three passengers in the vehicle were all taken to Hamilton Medical Center in Dalton for treatment.

The driver of the Avalon, 27-year-old Michael Dixon of Baltimore, Maryland, was transported with minor injuries to Gordon Hospital. Thompson said none of the injuries appear to be life-threatening. Dixon was cited for following too closely.

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