GRANDMOTHER,
GRANDSON CRITICAL AFTER GWINNETT, GEORGIA WRECK BETWEEN A MINIVAN AND A BOX
TRUCK. THE EJECTED CHILD WAS NOT WEARING
A SEAT BELT.
4:23 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015
Lawrenceville police are trying Tuesday to determine who
was at fault in a crash that sent six people to the hospital, critically
injuring two.
Police are also investigating whether the van passengers
were wearing safety belts at the time of the crash, Capt. Jeff Smith told The
Atlanta Journal-Constitution. One of the critically injured, a 13-year-old was
ejected from the vehicle on impact, Smith said.
“Some were and apparently some were not,” he said of the
belt use. “Exact seating arrangements and restraint usage is still being
investigated.”
A 2009 Dodge Caravan minivan carrying a grandmother and
five grandchildren —ages 5 to 21 — and a friend of one of the children collided
with an 2015 International box truck Monday afternoon at the intersection of
Old Norcross Road and Riverside Parkway.
The driver of the van, Priscilla Gidney, 64 of
Lawrenceville, was also critically injured, Smith said.
Four other children were also injured. The truck driver,
Jeremy Wayne Davis, 40 of Suwanee, was uninjured, Smith said.
Davis was traveling east on Old Norcross Road through
the green light at the intersection when he turned into the path of the van,
Smith said.
Davis said he turned because Gidney initially signaled
she was turning and then apparently changed her mind and drove straight ahead
after the truck had started to turn, Smith said.
“They both had the green light” Smith said. “Normally
you would say the van had the right of way but there are some questions about
the van maneuvers just before entering the intersection that will play a part
in the investigation about whether there will be charges.”
Gidney, who had to be extricated from the vehicle by
rescue workers, and the 13-year-old who was ejected, were transported to
Gwinnett Medical Center and remain in critical condition, Smith said.
The four other children were taken to Children’s
Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite with non-life-threatening injuries,
Smith said.
The 21-year-old received minor injuries and was treated
and released at the accident scene