South Fulton County

Charges pending against driver in crash that killed woman, 2 teens

SOUTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Family members whose loved ones were killed when their car collided with a train said their world has been turned upside down.

Police identified the three people killed when the

And now,

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has learned police said charges are pending against the driver.

Santan’ia McDowell and Lidonda Carter were killed in a freight train crash 

The crash happened at Buffington Road and Roosevelt Highway around 4 p.m. Monday.

The victims were identified as Lidonda Carter, 40, Santan'ia McDowell, 18 and Mackenzie Mack, 16. Authorities said all of the women were riding in the car.

The driver, Doreen Carter, is in the hospital. She is Santain'ia's mother.

"I lost a sister and I lost a niece. I lost a best friend," said Rebecca Arnold, Carter's sister and McDowell's aunt.

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Arnold got emotional thinking about the loved ones she lost when her sister's black car collided with the train.

"My sister was like my mom. She was like my everything," Arnold said.

Witnesses said the train smashed into the car as it attempted to cross the tracks.

Three dead when train crashes into car 

“The engine fly and debris every where. Airbags, parts from the car and that’s when I pulled my car across the grass and jumped out and tried to go help the ladies,” said witness Shardai Jett.

Family members said they don't want to talk about the pending charges right now, they just want people to remember their loved ones and the joy they brought to them.

"To lose somebody so close, like my oldest sister, (who was like) my mom, she raised me. And now she's just gone," Arnold said.

A vigil will be held for the victims tonight at 7 p.m.

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