A rear-end collision claimed the life of a 10-year-old Madison County boy and left a friend critically injured Friday.

Athens-Clarke County police say a tractor-trailer rear-ended the car in which Evan Escoe of Hull was riding, killing the child instantly. Ten-year-old Samuel Hart of Comer, who was sitting next to Evan in the rear seat, also was injured and flown to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite.

The mid-afternoon crash occurred on Highway 441 ( Commerce Road)  near Nature Center Road.

Trucker Thomas Land, 57, of North Carolina rear-ended the car Evan's mother, Elisha Hart, was driving when she slowed behind another car that was making a turn, police said. Elisha Hart and another son, Carter, did not receive life-threatening injuries, police say, and all of the vehicle's occupants  were wearing seat belts.

Athens-Clarke authorities on Saturday were still trying to determine the cause of the crash.

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In this file photo from October 2024, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler and teammates react after losing to the San Diego Padres 5-4 in San Diego. The Braves and Soler, who now plays for the Los Angeles Angels, face a lawsuit by a fan injured at a 2021 World Series game at Truist Park in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason.Getz@ajc.com