In a devastating accident on Thursday afternoon near Moultrie in south Georgia, four adults and a toddler lost their lives when their van collided head-on with a pickup truck on a state highway. The collision also left four others in the van and the pickup truck driver with severe injuries, requiring them to be airlifted to hospitals in Thomasville and Tallahassee, Florida. The incident occurred on Georgia 111, approximately 8 miles southwest of Moultrie, according to state troopers.
The van, carrying a mix of adults and children who were on their way to a Thanksgiving event, was traveling south on the two-lane highway, while the pickup truck was heading north. The crash resulted in a fiery scene, causing immediate fatalities and leaving the survivors in critical condition. Colquitt County Coroner Verlyn Brock expressed his shock at the severity of the accident, describing it as “horrendous” and stating that it was a miracle that anyone survived.
The deceased victims have been identified as Emiliano Martinez Ramon, 58; Anna Leticia Rodriquez, 61; Jose Moreno, 72; Herlinda Sel-Choc, 25; and Anderson Arial Sel, 3. Brock confirmed that Sel-Choc was the mother of Sel, but it remains uncertain if any of the older adults were related to the young child.
Unfortunately, this tragic incident was not an isolated one on Thanksgiving in Georgia. State troopers reported a total of 14 fatalities on Georgia highways that day. Another collision occurred on Interstate 16 near East Dublin, resulting in the deaths of two individuals. A Nissan Altima traveling in the wrong direction collided with a Honda Pilot, causing the victims to lose their lives before they could receive medical attention. One of the victims has been identified as April Jones of Dublin, while the identity of the second victim has not been released yet.
The Thanksgiving holiday turned into a day of mourning for many families in Georgia, as these accidents claimed a significant number of lives. The community is left grappling with the aftermath of these devastating crashes, emphasizing the importance of road safety and the need for vigilance while traveling.
