A father and mother have died and seven children were injured in a tragic ATV accident in Piedmont, Alabama, over the Labour Day weekend. The deceased have been named as Marcus Ragland, 34, and Ashley Hawkins, both from Rome, Georgia.
The crash occurred at around 3.45pm on Saturday at the Indian Mountain ATV Park. According to officials, a RZR vehicle carrying the two adults and seven children collided at high speed with a second ATV. The first vehicle travelled 150 feet, rolled over and struck a tree. Mr Ragland, who was driving, died at the scene. Mrs Hawkins was airlifted to hospital in Birmingham where she later died.
The children involved, aged between one and 12, were taken to hospitals in Rome, Georgia, and Birmingham, Alabama, for treatment. Six of the children were Mr Ragland’s. A GoFundMe page set up for the family stated Mr Ragland was a father of ten, with two more children on the way. No one in the second ATV was injured.
Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver said investigators were awaiting toxicology reports but believed speeding alone caused the crash. Mr Ragland’s mother, Felecia Towers, paid tribute to her son, stating: “I’m still waiting on him to come through the door but I know he’s not coming.” Family friend Monica Watkins, caring for some of the children, said: “They keep just asking for momma, and I don’t want to say because we haven’t told them about her yet.”
