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GSP: Mother behind wheel in I-20 racing crash that killed baby

ATLANTA — A mother is recovering in Grady Hospital after her 7-month-old son and boyfriend died in a car crash on Interstate 20 in Rockdale County early Friday morning.

The Georgia State Patrol said Alassen Anderson, 22, was racing her Honda west on I-20 when she clipped a pickup truck and flipped over.

Edi Rodriquez, 19, died at the scene. Anderson's son, Hunter, died en route to the hospital. Two others in the pickup truck were injured as well.

"She raised them by herself," said Anderson's mother Shawna Tallon. "She's done a really good job."

Tallon disputes the GSP's account of what happened. She said her daughter tells a different story about what happened.

Anderson claims Rodriquez was driving and wasn't racing at all. She said the pickup truck clipped them and caused the accident.

"She would never put them in any danger," said Tallon. "She would never let anyone else put them in any danger. She's a good mom."

Tallon said Anderson, who has another 3-year-old son, just started dating Rodriquez in the past few weeks.

Rodriquez's co-workers at the Pacho's Mexican Grill restaurant in Covington said he is survived by three daughters of his own.

"We're in shock," said restaurant office manager Mandy Lund. "He was a wonderful, a wonderful young man. He kept us all laughing. He was quite a character."

Restaurant owner Tony Rosas said Rodriquez had worked there two years and moved his way up from dishwasher to server and wanted to be a cook.

"Everything he did, he said it was for his girls," said Rosas.

So far, the GSP has not filed any charges in the case.

In the meantime, the family has set up a memorial fund in Hunter's honor. You can make a donation at any Wells Fargo bank location to the Hunter Anderson Memorial Fund.