In a devastating turn of events, a Bartow County crash on Interstate 75 has claimed the lives of four family members, with 6-year-old Titus Mason becoming the latest casualty when he was removed from life support this Wednesday, as reported by a GoFundMe page dedicated to the Mason family. The multi-vehicle collision occurred last Sunday near Red Top Mountain Road, taking the lives of Titus's parents, 43-year-old Dakarai Mason and 35-year-old Erin Mason, his brother 14-year-old Brandon Crawford, with services for Brandon planned for May 27 at Cartersville's New Hope Missionary Baptist Church.
Adding to the tragedy, 21-year-old Aimee Odom was also killed in the crash -- she was driving a Toyota 4Runner en route to a graduation party, her Celebration of Life service is set for May 24, and attendees are asked to wear pink to honor her memory as per the family's request, the collision resulted from the Masons’ van traveling north when it veered off course, crossing into the southbound lanes and setting off a fatal chain of events involving several vehicles, according to Georgia State Patrol, reports FOX 5 Atlanta.
Pastor Barry Garland of the community where the Masons lived has spoken out, offering prayers for solace; he emphasized the need for comfort and unity in the wake of such loss, expressing the sentiment that family semblance is all one may have in such grievous times in a statement obtained by Atlanta News First. The Masons were returning from a church event when the crash occurred, and now the only survivor of the family, 5-year-old Noah Mason, is expected to recover fully after his harrowing ordeal.
"I went up to see Noah and I waved at him, and I don’t think he recognized me, and he just raised his hand and gave me a thumbs up and I just said a prayer over him," Pastor Garland recounted to Atlanta News First. The incident has galvanized community support with Garland noting, "Somehow this brings us together, it helps us to realize we all are the same deep down we all are the same," sharing his observation of the surrounding compassion, and kindness that tragedy so often paradoxically summons forth, amid the heartache of shared grief.
