BY STEPHEN GURR

sgurr@gainesvilletimes.com

Two people died after a head-on collision Saturday morning in Murrayville, the Georgia State Patrol said.

Hall County Coroner Marion Merck said he could not release the identities of the wreck victims pending notification of next of kin.

State patrol officials said the male driver of a 1995 Ford Escort was northbound on Ga. 60 near Bark Camp Road about 10:20 a.m. Saturday when his car crossed over the double yellow line and struck a southbound 1996 Mercury Marquis head-on.

The driver of the Ford that crossed over into oncoming traffic was airlifted to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he later died, the state patrol said. A female passenger in the Mercury that the Ford struck also died after being taken to a hospital, the patrol said.

The driver of the Mercury was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center with injuries that were not thought to be life-threatening, the patrol said. His identity was not released Saturday.

The wreck shut down Ga. 60 in both directions Saturday morning.