SOUTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A teen faces felony charges in a wreck that killed a south Fulton County middle school teacher.
Police said the teen was driving on Camp Creek Parkway when she hit another car carrying Sandtown Middle School teacher Shireen Haynes, who died in the crash. The 16-year-old was on a restricted license, but her mother let her drive alone while she followed behind, police said.
"We do believe her mother drove her to a location to pick up one of their vehicles and actually placed her daughter behind the wheel to follow her back," Fulton County police Detective Melissa Parker said.
The girl was charged last month, but the charges have since been upgraded to vehicular homicide. Her mother, Syreeta Collins, is charged with reckless conduct.
Channel 2's John Bachman caught up with Haynes' neighbor, Brandon Croom, who spoke out about the tragedy.
"It's a sad situation for the daughter, the mother, the family, both families, especially for family of woman in this neighborhood," Croom said.
The two other passengers in Haynes’ car, James and Kay Price, were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital in critical condition. Family members said the Prices’ conditions have improved. Kay Price is also a teacher at Sandtown Middle School.
The attorney for the Prices said the couple declined to interview, but Bachman did speak to James Price off camera Wednesday afternoon. He is back home where he and his wife are recovering.
Croom, who is also an attorney, said the seriousness of the charges for the mother and daughter doesn't surprise him.
"I think more responsibility should be placed on the mother," Croom ssaid. "You don't envision this happening when you do this, but you kind of have to think of all the foreseeable circumstances."
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WSBTV
