HELEN, Ga. – Helen’s annual Oktoberfest celebration took an ugly turn over the weekend when a pickup truck swerved onto the sidewalk between Huddle House and the Super 8 Motel and barreled into a large group of people, injuring two women then left the scene.

Elsa M. Rodriguez Olsen, 64 of Illinois and Leticia Rodriguez Salazar, 60 of Marietta, Ga.
were transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville with undisclosed injuries.

The driver of the Ford F-250 that struck the women has been identified as Nicholas Allen Ivester, 34 of Cleveland, Ga.

He was arrested by White County deputies and taken to the White County Jail where he is charged with D.U.I., Failure to maintain lane, reckless driving and hit and run. The case remains under investigation.