A head-on collision in Marietta on Monday morning sent four people to the hospital, including a 16-year-old who was ejected from a minivan and a second child who remained inside, police said.
The crash happened on Whitlock Avenue near Winn Street just before 6 a.m., Marietta police spokesman Officer Chuck McPhilamy said in a news release. Melanie Angeles, 24, was driving west in a Nissan Altima while 32-year-old Kendra Smith was driving a Toyota Sienna in the opposite direction.
Two “unrestrained juveniles” were riding in Smith’s minivan, McPhilamy said.
Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC
Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC
Investigators do not know what caused the wreck, but the Altima and Sienna crashed into each other head-on, according to McPhilamy. Smith and Angeles were both seriously injured, and the teenager ejected from Smith’s van suffered minor injuries. The second child in the car, an 8-year-old, also suffered minor injuries. All four were taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, McPhilamy said.
The wreck shut down Whitlock Avenue, and traffic for Westside Elementary School had to be rerouted away from the scene. Photos of the crash show both cars heavily damaged. The Altima came to rest after hitting a telephone pole.
Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC
Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC
Neighbors who live near the crash site described a harrowing scene.
“The screaming was just terrible,” said Danielle Musolf, who lives near the crash site. “This was right in front of my house. I wish something could be done there. That curve is so dangerous. We have at least one bad wreck there every year.”
Jan Galt was taking her dogs out for a walk when she heard one loud boom, then another.
”At first I thought they were emptying the dumpster at Winwood,” she said, referring to the nearby retirement community. “It was very surreal. I heard the boom before I opened the door. We stepped outside and I heard screaming. My first thought was a coyote got a cat, but it didn’t stop. Then it hit me what happened. I ran back in and called 911. I could still hear the screaming from my bedroom. This will haunt me for quite some time.”
Marietta police officers and firefighters responded quickly, both residents noted.
No further information has been released about the crash, including if either driver will face charges.
The investigation remains active, and police are asking anyone with information to contact investigators at 770-794-5352.
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