I was stuck on the interstate after this happened. Here is what happened...
ARGO, Alabama -- Some of the victims killed in a car crash on Interstate 59 Wednesday evening were Hurricane Katrina survivors who had relocated to Birmingham and then Chattanooga, Tennessee, after the 2005 storm took everything they had.
The family was en route to see a friend graduate from Hoover High School when they broke down in a traffic lane near Argo and were struck from behind by an 18-wheeler.
The Jefferson County Coroner's Office identified the victims as Viola Smith, 41, her daughter Joan Smith, 22; her grandson Jayden Smith, five weeks, and another relative, 3-year-old Darrell Turner III, all of Chattanooga.
Darrell's mother was injured in the crash, as was another family member -- a 15-day-old infant. They are in critical condition.
The family had left Chattanooga Wednesday to attend the graduation ceremony.
"I keep telling everybody it's in God hands," said Joan Willis of Chattanooga, who lost her daughter, granddaughter and two great-grandsons in the deadly crash. "I've got to believe all of my babies are in God's hands."
The accident happened just before 5 p.m. Wednesday when authorities say the car carrying the victims broke down on the interstate.
The car was stopped in a traffic lane when it was struck from behind by the tractor-trailer truck, killing the four and injuring the other two.
The 18-wheeler overturned in a ditch just off the roadway. That driver was hospitalized with unknown injuries.
Trooper Cpl. Steve Smith say another person was also injured in the accident that happened at mile marker 145 near Argo in Jefferson County.
The injured were taken to UAB, Children's Hospital, Brookwood and St. Vincent's East. All northbound lanes were shut down for more than five hours following the deadly crash.
So sad.......If your car ever breaks down on the interstate & you can't get it out of the road, please, please, please, get your family out of the car & a safe distance away from traffic and call 911.
1 comment:
This brought tears to my eyes. It also reminds me of a similar story featured on Oprah. A woman and her mother-in-law were stuck in traffic on the interstate. And they were struck from behind. All five children were killed, and the two adults were badly injured. So sad to hear stories like this. I think it should be talked about more, so that people can be more aware.
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