A motor vehicle crash in South Fulton this past Saturday, November 5, 2011 left one teenager dead and 5 children injured. The vehicle crash occurred around 12:30 p.m. near the intersection of Flat Shoals Road and Harper Valley Drive, according to the CBS Atlanta News.
A mother was driving a black minivan with her children when she crossed the center line, slamming into the family of a white minivan. In addition to hitting the white minivan, the driver of the black minivan also sideswiped another vehicle.
It was a bus operator, Demetria McCastkill, on Marta who witnessed the tragic crash and called for help. Witnesses said that the driver of the black minivan (who is currently hospitalized) was responsible for causing the crash. She will be charged.
Five children between the ages of two years of age and 12 years of age were taken to area hospitals along with three adults. 16 year Joshua Jenkins from College Park died at the crash. His mother was the driver of the black minivan. A three year old is in critical condition while the other survivors are in stable condition.
Our thoughts are with everyone involved in the crash.
Unfortunately, car crashes occur every day. There were about 5,811,000 traffic crashes reported just in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In those traffic crashes, 37,261 people were killed and 2,346,000 people were injured.
In order to avoid a serious or deadly car accident, here are some basic safety tips while you drive:
- Don’t text while driving.
- Don’t drink and drive.
- Don’t ride with someone who is under the influence.
- Don’t eat while driving.
- Don’t apply makeup while driving.
- If you need to make a phone call, pull over.
- Perform maintenance on your car and follow the speed limits.
- Use your turn signals.
- If you get drowsy or cannot focus while driving, pull over and rest.
- Do not reach for things.
