Clarkesville man faces charges after chase, wreck

CORNELIA – A 35-year-old Clarkesville man faces several charges after a brief chase that ended in a wreck near Cornelia Saturday night.

Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a green 35th-anniversary Ford Mustang GT on Pea Ridge Road. The driver, Mark Daniel Smith, failed to stop and lost control when the vehicle rounded a curve between Garrison Road and Garner Road just before 11 p.m.

The Mustang went out of control and traveled off the left shoulder of the road, striking a tree. The car then continued and struck a second tree before coming to rest. Smith was checked out by medical personnel at the scene, then was arrested by sheriff’s officers at 11:09 p.m.

Smith was charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving, driving too fast for conditions, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, and possession of an open container violation, detention center records show.

Pea Ridge Road essentially was closed in the area until the wrecked car was removed at 12:20 a.m. Sunday.