Local

7-year-old dies, 5 kids injured in I-20 wreck

DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. — Douglasville police say a 7-year-old boy was killed and several children were injured in a deadly crash that shut down Interstate 20 for several hours Friday night.

Police said the accident happened near the Fairburn Road exit about 10:15 p.m. An SUV with six people inside flipped several times at the exit ramp off I-20. The occupants, a family from Atlanta, were trying to visit another relative at a hotel off the Fairburn Road exit, police said.

Five of the six family members involved in the wreck were children. One was an adult.

Four of the people had to be flown by helicopter to local hospitals, after some of the passengers were thrown out of the SUV when it flipped over several times.

Police listed the victims as:

  • A 7-year-old boy, identified as Jamaul Lewis, of Douglasville, died at the scene.
  • A 6-year-old girl in critical condition at Children's at Egleston Pediatric Hospital.
  • A 13-year-old girl in critical condition at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite.
  • A 15-year-old girl in good condition at  Children's at Egleston Pediatric Hospital.
  • Another 15-year-old girl was transported to a hospital. Her location is unknown.
  • An adult female driver is at Atlanta Medical Center with minor injuries.

“It appeared they may have missed their exit and tried to correct by cutting across the median and lost control of the vehicle,” said Douglasville Police Department Deputy Chief Gary Sparks.

Channel 2's Steve Gehlbach is working to get more information about the fatality, and the progress of the family members involved in the crash.

Meanwhile, Channel 2 Action News is gathering details about other fatal wrecks that happened Friday night.

A motorcycle crash shut down traffic on Georgia 400. The Fulton County Medical Examiner identified the victim as 28-year-old Sarah Howell, of Alpharetta. Roswell police said she was a passenger on the motorcycle that crashed near Mansell Road.

Police said Howell was hit by a car after falling off the motorcycle when it struck a wall. The motorcycle driver is facing several charges, including  DUI and vehicular homicide.

The Fulton County Medical Examiner has also identified victims of a fatal crash in south Fulton.

Officials said 38-year-old Kendrick Brown of Smyrna and 48-year-old William Small of Lithia Springs were killed in the crash on I-285 near Camp Creek Parkway.

Officials said two cars and four motorcycles collided around midnight.

Stay with Channel 2 Action News for updates on these developing stories tonight on The Channel 2 Action News Nightbeat at 11 and WSBTV.com