Five teenagers died early Monday morning in a multi-vehicle crash on the Ga. 316 onramp to I-85. According to a report from WSB-TV 2, a Toyota Tacoma carrying six teens collided with another vehicle and flipped over the flyover’s concrete barrier, landing on the onramp below. Two teens were ejected from the vehicle during the accident, and one landed in the middle of the road, where they were struck by a third vehicle. Five teens ranging in age from 17-19 were killed, including three students who attended Lakeside High School in DeKalb County. The sixth teen in the Tacoma, age 18, survived the crash with minor injuries.
The driver of the second vehicle involved in the accident was not hurt in the wreck. However, as he was attempting to get to safety after the crash, he jumped over the concrete barrier in the flyover, falling about 25 feet and sustaining multiple broken bones.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers. Each year, around 2,800 teens are killed in traffic-related accidents and more than a quarter of a million more suffer injuries. Teens are particularly at risk of accidents during hours of darkness, with 44 percent of teen motor vehicle deaths occurring between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Around 56 percent of teens aged 16-19 who are killed in car accidents aren’t wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash.
If you lost a loved one due to a car accident in the Atlanta metro area, let an experienced wrongful death lawyer from Cambre & Associates help you understand the process of seeking compensation for the financial and emotional costs of your loss. Contact us for a free case evaluation.