CLEVELAND, Ga. — One child died and another person suffered serious injuries in a two-vehicle traffic accident in Cleveland today.

The Georgia State Patrol responded to the accident on Appalachian Parkway at South Main Street just before 12:00 p.m.

According to reports on scene, the driver of a van reportedly pulled into the path of a vehicle that was traveling south on the Appalachian Parkway.

The parkway was shut down for over an hour while officials worked the accident and cleared the scene.

Officials with the state patrol were expected to release more details later Monday.

CLEVELAND, Ga. – Jason Dale Pearson, 41 of 561 Wooten Road in Cleveland, was killed Saturday afternoon when his 1996 Chevrolet pickup truck struck a tow truck on Ga. Hwy. 254 west of Shelnut Road in White County.

According to the Georgia State Patrol accident report, Pearson’s truck crossed the centerline and struck a tow truck on the left side in the rollback portion of the bed.

Pearson’s vehicle then rotated counterclockwise and traveled off the north shoulder of Ga. 254, coming to a rest facing west. The area of impact was in the westbound lane of Ga. 254.

The crash happened at 3:55 p.m. and left Hwy. 254 closed for more than two hours.

Alcohol is suspected of being a contributing factor in the crash.

The driver of the tow truck, Ronnie Lee Mull, 42 of 300 Garner Road in Cornelia, was not injured and was not charged.

SAUTEE, Ga. — The passenger in a pickup truck was killed and the driver was injured and faces possible driving under the influence charges following a single-vehicle accident just north of Cleveland late last night.

Christian Culp, 24, died when the 1999 Chevrolet pickup truck he was a passenger in went off Joe Black Road in a curve.

White County Coroner Ricky Barrett said Culp was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 11:47 p.m.

The Georgia State Patrol is still investigating the accident. The driver of the vehicle, Jeffrey L. Swain, age 24 from Perry, FL, was transported to Habersham Medical Center where the extent of his injuries is unknown at this time.

Corporal Nick Jenkins of Georgia State Patrol Post 6 said via email the vehicle was traveling west on Joe Black Road when Swain lost control. The vehicle then traveled off the right side of the road and into a ditch, striking the ditch with its right front quarter panel. The vehicle rotated clockwise and came to rest facing east on all four tires.

WHITE CO., Ga. –Two White County youths were airlifted after their dirt bikes collided shortly after noon on Sunday.

Corporal Austin Allen of the Georgia State Patrol said the accident occcurred in a heavily wooded area on Far Winds Road. “Both drivers misjudged their clearance and contact was made between the left side of vehicle 1 and the left side of vehicle 2.”

The dirt bike operated by 13-year-old Skylar Bassett, of Cleveland, left the trail and struck a tree with its front end. He was then ejected and he also struck the tree.

Joey Rivard, 12, the operator of the second dirt bike, overturned and he was ejected.