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Driver charged for wreck that injured 3 in northeast Forsyth
wyatt melton mug
Melton

NORTH FORSYTH — An investigation into a single-vehicle crash that injured three people has revealed the 20-year-old driver was reportedly speeding and driving under the influence of drugs, authorities said.

According to the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, Wyatt Melton of Cumming has been charged with two counts of serious injury by vehicle and for DUI drugs less safe, failure to maintain lane and too fast for conditions.

Melton is being held at the Forsyth County Jail without bond due to a rebooking bond surrender for felony charges in June.

Those counts include first-degree burglary by force and theft by taking, according to Epifanio Rodriguez, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office.

Melton and his two passengers were injured when the northbound 2003 Hyundai Elantra in which they were traveling left Crystal Cove Trail just north of Dawsonville Highway (Hwy. 53) about 6:15 a.m. on Oct. 8, striking a “large tree head on.”

Hayley Pierce, 20, of Forsyth County was sitting unrestrained in the front seat and was trapped under the passenger side dash console.

She was flown to Atlanta Medical Center in critical but stable condition, and has reportedly improved since.

The backseat passenger, 46-year-old Theresa Pierce of Forsyth County, was also unrestrained and was thrown through the windshield, coming to rest on the ground near the front passenger side of the vehicle.

She has since been released from Northeast Georgia Medical Center and is recuperating at home, officials said.

Melton, who was wearing a seat belt, was also taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center with what were termed non-life threatening injuries.