Georgia couple, son killed in wrong-way crash in Florida
A Georgia couple and one of their two children were killed late Saturday when their vehicle collided head-on with a wrong-way driver north of Gainesville, Florida, police say.
Christopher Hesling, 30, and Brittany Trowell Hesling, 31, both of St. Marys, Georgia, were killed along with their 4-year-old son, Jack, who later died from his injuries at UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville, according to several media reports.
NEW: Very sad update tonight as a number of sources on social media close to the Hesling family say that the couple’s 4yo son has died in the hospital.
— David Jones (@DavidJonesTV) November 17, 2019
First Coast News is working to confirm through Florida Highway Patrol. This would make a quadruple-fatal investigation. @FCN2go pic.twitter.com/B6hur2lZYR
The couple's 6-month-old daughter, Maggie, was said to have suffered only minor injuries and was expected to survive, friends and family announced on Facebook.
The driver of the other vehicle was killed but has not yet been identified because the car caught on fire after the crash.
A passer-by and witness to the crash said he broke the windows of the family's car to rescue the children from their child safety seats and tended to them until paramedics arrived on the scene.
A report by the Florida Highway Patrol said a Hyundai Elantra was heading the wrong way in the eastbound lanes of State Road 24 near Northeast 69th Way about 11:40 p.m. Saturday when it collided head-on with the family's Toyota Rav4.
Christopher Hesling was driving, the report said, and Brittany Hesling was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
According to social media, Brittany's birthday was Saturday.
