A 19-year-old driver and an 8-year-old passenger were killed Monday afternoon in a wreck involving a tanker truck and a minivan on I-575 in Cobb County, according to police.
Investigators believe Abraham Fernandez-Zuniga, of Acworth, was driving a red 2001 Chrysler Town and Country minivan northbound on I-575 when he crossed the median and went into a southbound lane, Officer Mike Bowman with Cobb police said Monday night.
“As the Chrysler entered into the southbound lanes, it was struck in the driver’s side by the commercial truck,” Bowman said in an emailed statement.
Fernandez-Zuniga and an 8-year-old passenger, whose name was not released, both died at the scene, Bowman said.
The 42-year-old driver of the truck, a 2007 International 7600 commercial vehicle, was transported to WellStar Kennestone Hospital for non-life threatening injuries. The truck driver was identified as Earldean Clayton, of Rex.
The wreck, which happened around 2 p.m., had both lanes of I-575 southbound blocked just north of Chastain Road. One northbound lane of I-575 was also temporarily closed. Traffic was being routed off the interstate, but by 5:40 p.m., all lanes were open.
Anyone with information about this investigation or anyone who may have seen the Chrysler prior to it entering the grassy median is asked to call Cobb police at 770-499-3987.
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