Community mourns Cobb student-athlete and her father killed in wrong-way driver crash

MARIETTA, Ga. — A Cobb County family is going through the unimaginable after a father and daughter were killed in a crash.

Erica Rountree said she, her husband, Chris, and their two daughters, Libby and Cate, were driving back from a vacation on Saturday when a wrong-way driver crashed into the driver’s side of their car on U.S. 441 near Dublin.

Chris, 53, and Libby, 17, did not survive the crash. Erica and Cate were seriously injured. On the family’s Caring Bridge page, Erica Rountree said her husband tried to prevent the crash.

“Chris did his absolute best to swerve out of the way, but the driver was going so fast there wasn’t time & he took the full impact on the driver’s side & Libby was sitting behind him. His actions saved Cate’s & my lives without a doubt. He has always been our protector & shield & I don’t know what we’ll do without him,” she wrote.

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Libby was a rising senior and soccer player for Lassiter High School.

“Libby will be remembered as a generous young lady whose smile, infectious laughter, and artistic abilities brought happiness to many students and teachers at Lassiter. Libby was well-loved by her peers, coaches, and teachers,” Lassiter principal Chris Richie wrote in a letter to the school.

Lassiter coach Robbie Galvin says Libby’s number 19 will always be present in the team’s locker room.

“We’re going to keep this Libby’s locker. Leave these jerseys up here the entire season,” he said.

Erica Rountree said that Cate underwent two surgeries so far this week to repair a broken leg and shattered pelvis.

“Our girl is strong and brave. We always knew it, but it’s on full display today. I know her daddy & sister are proud as can be of her. Through it all, she continually asks how I’m doing and checks on me,” she wrote.

A prayer vigil for the Rountree family will be held Thursday at Mt. Bethel’s Upper Room from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

A GoFundMe has been set up by family friends to assist with funeral costs and medical bills. More than $45,000 has been donated so far.

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