Gainesville man charged with DUI, airlifted following three-vehicle crash in Tallulah Falls

A Gainesville man is charged with DUI and other traffic charges and was airlifted following a three-vehicle crash Thursday afternoon in Tallulah Falls that resulted in serious injuries. 

The crash occurred on Ga. 15 just past Tallulah Falls dam. Both Rabun and Habersham Counties responded to the crash. 

Edmanuel Leonardo Mendoza, 21, of Gainesville, was traveling south on Ga. 15 in the left lane in a silver 2013 Chevrolet Camaro. Mendoza failed to maintain his lane of travel and traveled into the turning lane and towards the northbound lanes of Ga. 15, striking a white 2013 Dodge Caravan, driven by a 17-year-old of College Park, Ga., with three-17-year-old passengers, that was traveling north on Ga. 15 in the left lane, in the right front with its front, according to Georgia State Patrol (GSP) Post 7-Toccoa. 

After impact, the Camaro rotated clockwise and came to an uncontrolled final rest facing northwest in the turning lane of Ga. 15. 

The Caravan rotated clockwise and a silver 2005 Chevy Tahoe, driven by Robert Guess, 71, of Demorest, with passenger Karen Guess, 70, of Demorest, and traveling south on Ga. 15 in the right lane, struck the Caravan in the right front quarter panel with its front. After impact, the Caravan came to an uncontrolled final rest facing west in the southbound lanes of Ga. 15.  The Tahoe came to an uncontrolled final rest facing south in the right lane of Ga. 15 southbound, GSP reported. 

Mendoza was airlifted to a hospital with serious injuries. The 17-year-old driver and three 17-year-old passengers were transported to hospitals. Robert and Karen Guess were transported to a hospital also.  The locations were unknown at the time of the report, according to GSP. 

Mendoza is charged with DUI and other traffic charges, GSP reported.