A local historian and his wife suffered serious injuries in a head-on collision Saturday afternoon near the Dawson-Forsyth county line.

Charles and Kathy Finley of Dawsonville were flown to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta in critical condition following a two-vehicle wreck about 4:15 p.m. on Ga. 53, just east of War Hill Park Road.

The driver of the second vehicle, 66-year-old Mickey Bunton of Gainesville, was flown to Atlanta Medical Center in serious but stable condition, according to Dawson County Emergency Services Battalion Chief Robby Lee.

Dawson County Sheriff Billy Carlisle, who was at the scene of the wreck, said Bunton was traveling east on Ga. 53 when he attempted to negotiate a curve and “ran off the shoulder, overcorrected and came back on the road, crossed the center line and struck the Finleys head on.”

The busy corridor was closed for several hours while emergency crews worked to free the injured and clear the scene.

“They were all in critical condition because it was such a severe impact,” said Billy Thurmond, emergency services director. “Forsyth County sent an engine and their heavy rescue unit to help with the extrications.”

A spokeswoman with Georgia State Patrol, which is investigating the wreck, said no charges have been filed in the case.