Police Release IDs of Victims In Head-On Collision

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Woodstock, GA -- The Georgia State Patrol continues to investigate a serious, two-vehicle crash that sent five people to the hospital Thursday morning.

The agency on Friday also released the names of the drivers and passengers involved in the head-on collision, which occurred around 9:15 a.m. Feb. 11 along East Cherokee Drive at Highlands Drive in unincorporated Woodstock.

A preliminary investigation shows a 2000 Ford Mustang was traveling eastbound on East Cherokee Drive when it “crossed into the westbound lane of travel, causing a collision with a 2011 Infiniti G37, which was traveling westbound,” Georgia State Patrol spokesperson Tracey Watson said.

Two occupants in the back seat of Ford Mustang were ejected and one front occupant in the Ford Mustang was trapped and had to be extricated, the agency added.

Occupants inside the Mustang were: Joshua Cameron Chernak, 26, of Canton, who was behind the wheel; Dustin Lee Smith, 24, of Canton; Rene Alexandria Freeman, 21, of Jasper; and Jerel Fike, 21, of Canton.

The driver of the Infiniti, Rebecca McLaws, 43, of Canton, was also injured in the crash. The five patients were all transported by ambulance to WellStar Kennestone Hospital.

Charges are pending, and the Georgia state trooper investigating the crash ”believes that alcohol was a contributing factor in this crash,” GSP added.

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Image via Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services