An unidentified male victim was airlifted to an area hospital Saturday afternoon after being hit by a car on Perimeter Road in Dawsonville.

The incident occurred as thousands of visitors were leaving the annual Mountain Moonshine Festival, which organizers predicted would bring 100,000 tourists to the area over the weekend.

Officials said they believed the male, who was a teen or in his early 20s, was attempting to cross the road near Ga. 53.
“He was flown to Atlanta Medical Center in critical condition,” said Dawson County Emergency Services Chief Lanier Swafford.

Dawson County Sheriff Billy Carlisle said he was unsure of the male patient’s age, name or city of residence.

“We believe he was leaving the festival. We just don’t know at this time,” he said.

The Georgia State Patrol, which is investigating the incident, offered no further details as of Saturday evening.

David McKee, president of K.A.R.E. for Kids, which organizes the festival, said he had just learned of the incident and would continue to follow up on the young man’s condition.