A tragic sequence of events unfolded in Athens after a wrong-way driver caused a multi-vehicle crash, resulting in multiple fatalities, including those of a pregnant woman and her unborn child. The Athens-Clarke County Police Department reported that the accident occurred last Saturday morning on the Georgia Highway 10 Inner Loop, as per FOX 5 Atlanta.
At around 12:08 a.m., officers were called to the scene near Chase Street, with subsequent reports of a collision close to Oglethorpe Avenue. Desiree Browning, 26, of Lawrenceville, was identified as the driver of a Kia Seltos traveling the wrong way before striking several vehicles, including a Toyota Camry. The driver of the Toyota Camry, Soonhoon Choi, 25, of Athens, was declared dead at the scene, his pregnant wife, and passenger, 25-year-old Sara "Lexi" Waldroup was critically injured in the crash and later died, along with the couple's unborn child, reported 11Alive.
Police investigations have revealed that after striking the Toyota Camry, Browning's vehicle collided with cable barriers and caught fire. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident's impact also resulted in injuries to passengers in both the Toyota and the Kia, as well as to the occupants of the additional vehicles involved, with those not being life-threatening.
A GoFundMe campaign was established to support Waldroup, who had been hospitalized following the accident. "What began as hope and prayer has turned into unimaginable heartbreak," Aaron Bedgood, the campaign organizer, said in a statement obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta. This incident has been marked as the eighth fatal crash in the county this year, bringing the total number of traffic-related deaths to 10, based on police reports.
The investigation of the crash remains ongoing, with Athens-Clark County police urging anyone who might have information about the incident to come forward. Senior Police Officer Joshua Santos is handling inquiries regarding the case.
