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Driver's mom apologizes for crash that injured teens

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ga. — A woman whose daughter was charged in a crash that critically injured teen girls said her daughter is distraught.

Crystal Marshall, 22, was charged with DUI after hitting the teens in Douglas County on Tuesday morning. Her mother, Pat, is now offering an apology to the victims and their families.

"Crystal's very apologetic towards it," Pat Marshall told Channel 2's Shae Rozzi.
"She's sorry for more than one reason."

Marshall talked to her daughter Wednesday morning at the Douglas County Jail.

"She said she hasn't had anything to eat and that she was really distraught by the fact that the girls were hurt. She constantly cries and says she didn't mean it," Marshall said.

The crash happened around 1:30 a.m. on Maxham Road near Thornton Road in Austell, outside the Marshall's apartment. Marshall said her daughter initially didn't tell her about the victims when she called her about the crash.

Later in the day, the Georgia State Patrol identified the victims as three girls ages 13 to 15. The GSP said Shania Willis suffered the most serious injuries and is being treated for head trauma at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston.

Kendra Taylor also suffered head trauma and was listed in critical condition at Grady Memorial Hospital, according to the GSP. Carleece Brown, 13, suffered a broken ankle and was being treated at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite.

Rozzi has been trying to reach out to the families of the three girls and is waiting to hear back from the GSP for an update on their conditions.

"All I can do is hope that they get better. I pray for a fast recovery," Pat Marshall said.

Marshall told Rozzi that her daughter went to a friend's house Monday night where she played cards and had cocktails. When she asked her daughter why she didn't stay at her friend's house, she explained that she wanted to come home because she had to work later in the morning and needed to wash her work clothes.

Pat Marshall told Rozzi that she had warned her daughter about the dangers of drinking and driving.

"Sometimes, as kids we don't pay attention to what our parents say," she said.