UDPATED SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2023 AT 1 PM:

On Friday at 2 PM, the Georgia State Patrol was dispatched to an accident on Highway 27 at Scott Hill Road in the Gore area of Chattooga County.  According to troopers, a 2006 Jeep Wrangler, driven by David Lopez of Rome, came across the grass median and into the northbound lanes of Highway 27 and struck a 2016 Hyundai Sante Fe, driving by Lori McWhorter.  McWhorter was pronounced dead at the scene and Lopez was transported to a Rome hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.   WZQZ News spoke with the Georgia State Patrol on Saturday afternoon, and confirmed the identity of the driver of the Jeep.  We are still waiting on an updated accident report from the Georgia State Patrol public information office.