The wrong-way driver in a crash that killed him and two members of a Braselton family was trying to get away after being involved in fender-bender minutes before the fatal wreck, Marietta police said Monday.

Nicasio Rodrigo Vicente-Hernandez, 29, was trying to get away after a minor traffic accident on Cobb Parkway, near the Canton Road bridge, Sunday about 9 p.m, police said witnesses told them.

Police were not pursuing Vicente-Hernandez at that time and only learned about the earlier wreck as they were investigating the fatal crash.

Vicente-Hernandez fled the first wreck. He got onto the Canton Road Connector the wrong way and rammed his 1999 Mercury Villager van head-on into a southbound 1995 Ford Taurus driven by Rodney James Godfrey, 47, of Braselton, said Detective Jake King, a Marietta police spokesman.

Eric Godfrey, 17, also was killed.

Mary Clare Godfrey, 51, was in serious condition Monday at Atlanta Medical Center. The couple's 12-year-old son was taken to Children's Health Care of Atlanta. Because the youth's name was not released by police, the hospital could not provide information on his condition.

The accident is still under investigation. Toxicology tests were ordered for Vicente-Hernandez, but it could take several days before the results are known. Police could not find a valid license on Vicente-Hernandez.

Eric was a 10th grader at Jackson County Comprehensive High School in Jefferson. His father was president of the band parents organization.

Todd McGhee, the school principal, said social workers and counselors were at the school Monday.

Eric was a member of the high school band and popular with his classmates at the 1,000-student school, McGhee said.

Eric was "well-liked by his peers," McGhee said.

Eric was an accomplished musician who played with the school's highest-level band, the wind ensemble, he said.

The "band classes have taken some extra time to debrief," McGhee said.

The tenor saxophone was Eric's main instrument, McGhee said. But he played several types of saxophones. Eric was selected to play on the Georgia State University High School Honor Band this year.

During the two-day event in February, students rehearsed, participated in master classes at GSU, watched a performance and played.

McGhee did not know what colleges Eric was considering.

But, because he was so talented, "I'm sure music was in his future," McGhee said.

Staff writers Mike Morris and Rebecca McCarthy contributed to this report.