No serious injuries reported in wreck

  • Becky Long • Clay County Progress Rescue workers secure the scene of a two-car traffic accident at the heavily travelled bypass intersection in Hayesville.
    Becky Long • Clay County Progress Rescue workers secure the scene of a two-car traffic accident at the heavily travelled bypass intersection in Hayesville.

    By Lorrie Ross

    Staff Writer

     

    Failure to yield the right-of-way resulted in a two-vehicle collision at the busy intersection of Highway 64 and Highway 69, leaving one vehicle on its side.

    Around 10:15 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, 73-year-old Helen Sturgeon, was driving a 2021 Subaru east on Highway 64. Sturgeon, of Brasstown, turned left at the traffic light to drive north on US-64 Business from the Highway 64 eastbound lanes, which were designated by construction cones at the time of the accident.

    According to the collision report by North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper Isaac Boring, Sturgeon failed to yield the right-of-way with the left turn which led her into the path of a 2018 Volkswagon driven by 35 year-old Tiffany Mulligan of Hayesville. Mulligan’s vehicle struck Sturgeon’s in the intersection and stopped at the point of impact. Sturgeon’s Subaru spun sideways, turned over once and came to rest on its right side on US- Business 64.

    Sturgeon was transported by Clay County EMS to Union General Hospital in Blairsville while Mulligan declined treatment by EMS. Neither vehicle was drivable, with $15,000 worth of damages estimated to Sturgeon’s Subaru, which is registered to William Sturgeon of the same address. Mulligan’s vehicle sustained approximately $7,500 worth of damage. The car she was driving was registered to Timothy Mulligan of the same address in Hayesville. Helen Sturgeon was charged with failing to yield.

    The construction on Highway 64 and Business-64 is nearing completion, with the Highway 64 construction project also seeing completion in the next several months. Commentary on local community social media pages has expressed concern about an increase in traffic accidents during construction in Clay County. Collision statistics were not available at press time. In the meantime, motorists are encouraged to pay close attention to changing traffic patterns and follow these guidelines from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety:

    • Orange work zone signs mean that motorists must slow down to the posted speed limit. The minimum fine for speeding in a work zone is $250. Depending on the speed, a revocation may also be imposed.