CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — Clayton County police are trying to piece together what caused a crash that killed two small children.
Jayona Hamrick, 6, and Jaaron Jamrick, 5, died Tuesday night when police say their mother’s car pulled out of Scott Road in the path of an oncoming tractor-trailer. Their mother, Jasmine, was injured.
Jasmine’s mother, the children's grandmother, says this is a tough time for all of them.
“They were beautiful, good, good children,” Dena Bennett said.
Bennett says she was keeping the children at her Riverdale home Tuesday before her daughter came and picked them up.
Bennett says her heart is broken over the tragic crash.
“They were my heart, my life, my babies. My grandbabies,” she said.
She says she nicknamed Jayona "Money" and the last time she saw Jaaron Tuesday, he asked for a hug.
Surveillance video shows the horrific high-speed accident that happened on Highway 138.
Police say Jasmine Hamrick pulled her Honda Accord out into Hwy 138 traffic and an oncoming tractor-trailer hit her car. The impact killed Jayona and Jaaron.
Jasmine, who suffered a broken leg, is now home from the hospital.
Bennett says emotionally, her daughter is having a rough time.
“She's not doing well. She's not. Physically she's okay, but it's a long way, a long road ahead of us,” Bennett said.
Clayton County police say Hamrick claims her brakes failed, something they're checking on.
Police had not charged anyone in the crash as of Wednesday afternoon.
Clayton County Police Captain Angelo Daniel says a fatality crash involving children is hard on them, too.
“It's very, very tough in these types of situations. The kids had their life ahead of them,” Daniel said.
Bennett says the family is rallying around her daughter.
“We were already close, but this right here, it's just unbelievable. Seems like a dream. (I’m) waiting on him to knock on my door this morning saying I’m hungry,” she said.
Both children went to Church Elementary School and the district announced it had grief counselors there.
WSBTV
