7 north Ga. first responders exposed to mystery substance at crash, hospitalized

GILMER COUNTY, Ga. — Seven first responders are recovering after they were exposed to a mystery substance while working a crash in Gilmer County.

Gilmer County Fire Rescue units were called to a crash at the intersection of Boardtown Road and Whitepath Road on Thursday. They found a pick-up truck that had run off the road and hit a tree.

The two people inside the truck were injured. Their conditions are unknown.

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While on the scene, first responders were exposed to an unknown controlled substance that was inside the vehicle.

Two Gilmer County sheriff’s deputies and five EMS crew members started showing symptoms and were taken to local hospitals. They all have since been released.

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“I would like to thank the brave men and women of the Gilmer County Fire Rescue and Gilmer Sheriff’s Office for their selfless efforts every day to keep the citizens of Gilmer County safe. I would also like to thank the partners who responded to support our agency while our crews were being medically treated from an extremely dangerous situation,” Gilmer County Director of Public Safety Keith Kucera said. “This is a courageous group of public servants who do their best to help people in their greatest times of need.”

It has not yet been determined what the substance was.

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The incident remains under investigation.

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