The 21 year-old driver in a fatal crash on Canton Highway in Cumming yesterday faces numerous charges this morning.

Jackson Kyle Kelley, 21, of Newt Green Road in Cumming, was driving a 1999 Ford Taurus eastbound in the 2000 block of Canton Highway when he attempted a left turn into the Wood Ace Hardware store, according to Forsyth County Traffic Specialist Investigator Phil Alexander. Kelley’s Taurus was struck broadside on the passenger side by a 2000 Ford F-250 pickup truck driven by George Yerdon, Jr., age 29, of Columns Drive in Cumming.

The passenger in Kelley’s car, 20 year-old, James Thomas Kearns of Winchester Drive in Cumming, was entrapped in the Taurus for about 30 minutes and died enroute to the hospital.

Investigator Alexander said that his investigation at the scene indicated that alcoholic beverages were present in Kelley’s car prior to the crash.

Kelley was arrested and charged with Homicide by Vehicle, 1st Degree; Driving Under the Influence; Driving on a Suspended License; Failure to Yield While Turning Left and Open Container of Alcohol. Kelley was transported by ambulance to Northside Forsyth Hospital where he was treated and released for non life-threatening injuries. He was then booked into the Forsyth County Jail, where he is being held this morning in lieu of a $19,800 bail.

Yerdon was also treated and released at Northside Forsyth Hospital.

The wreck occurred at approximately 1:20 p.m. and caused traffic flow on Canton Highway to be shut down for over an hour.