Two Henry County parents were awakened early Friday by investigators. The news was devastating.
“Your kids were involved in a car accident and they did not make it,” were the words Jean Pamphile heard.
Pamphile and his wife learned their three youngest children and the family dog had all been killed when their vehicle clipped another on I-75 South in Clayton County, flipped and ignited, according to investigators. Later that evening, the mother of a fourth victim learned her daughter had also been killed.
While the crash remained under investigation Monday, the Pamphile family is planning a memorial service for the three siblings: Jovany, 14, Brenda, 18, and Carl, 21. Pamphile created a GoFundMe page to assist with burial costs. Tiawanna Garvin said her daughter, Alexia Garvin, also died in the crash. She was Carl Pamphile’s girlfriend.
“She was sweet, tough, thoughtful, very protective,” Tiawanna Garvin wrote on Facebook. “She was a buddy, a daughter, sister, cousin, granddaughter, niece, best friend, but most of all she was Lexie.”
A family friend created a GoFundMe page for Alexia Garvin.
“The family is heartbroken at such a precious loss,” the page said. “Please help in any way. There is no gift too large or small.”
According to Clayton police, the crash happened around 1:30 a.m. Friday just north of the I-285 East exit. Two occupants were ejected as their vehicle overturned and hit a tree. Investigators said speed may have been a factor, but they don’t believe the vehicle was racing.
Credit: Family photo
Credit: Family photo
A police sergeant described the crash scene as one of the most horrific she had seen, investigators said.
The driver of the second vehicle was taken to a hospital with serious injuries but was expected to survive, Channel 2 Action News reported.
The crash temporarily closed all southbound lanes of I-75. Two right lanes of the interstate remained blocked until around 6 a.m.
“I will keep this family in my prayers,” one person posted on the Pamphile fundraising page. “The road to recovery will be a struggle, but as a community, we can help them to heal.”
Funeral arrangements were pending.
