State patrol: Seat belts not used in fatal van crash

By Alexis Stevens and Kristi E. Swartz

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Georgia State Patrol said Monday it does not appear seat belts were being used when a church van overturned in south Georgia, killing four people.

Fifteen others were injured when they were thrown from the van as it rolled over along U.S. Highway 27 in southwest Georgia Sunday night, the state patrol said.

The church’s pastor was among the four who died. An 11-month old baby is among those who were injured, authorities said.

The Columbus church group was on its way to a revival in Quincy, Fla., the state patrol said. The driver lost control of the van after the rear right tire blew out, Gordy Wright, state patrol spokesman, told the AJC.

"The van traveled into the median and overturned several times," Wright said in a statement. "Several of the passengers were ejected from the vehicle."

Authorities said all of the passengers were thrown from the van, which was driven by Kenasha Seldon, 29, from Shiloh, state patrol said.

The four people who died are: Ronmyka Williams, 35, who is the church’s pastor; Jennifer Walton, 20; Cameron Freeman, 19; and Jasmin Shelly, 13. They are all from Columbus, the state patrol said.

Those who were injured were taken to local hospitals. Authorities said several people were airlifted to hospitals in Tallahassee and Dothan, Ala.

The 1987 Dodge Ram Wagon belonged to the Tabernacle of Deliverance and Prayer, Wright said.

State troopers remained at the crash scene, south of Blakely, for several hours, Wright said. The investigation into the wreck continues.