LOCUST GROVE, Ga. - A 10-year-old girl from Lake Worth, Fla. has been identified as the fatal victim of a rollover crash on I-75 that injured eight others.
The accident happened Thursday morning just south of Atlanta. Authorities said a Mercury Mountaineer attempted to change lanes and lost control.
"First vehicle lost control for some unknown reason and started to flip, " said Locust Grove Police Lt. Matthew Long. "While it was out of control, it struck a second vehicle, and each vehicle ended up on opposite sides of the interstate,"
The second vehicle, a Nissan, careered into a guardrail in an emergency lane.
When first responders arrived, they found all nine passengers -- including six children -- of the Mountaineer lying along the highway.
A 10-year-old girl, identified as Angelica Ballinas of Lake Worth, Fla., was pronounced dead.
The eight other passengers were taken to area hospitals. Two had to be life-flighted.
The Nissan's driver was not taken to the hospital. None of its occupants have been identified.
According to the state patrol, at least three other crashes followed as a result of drivers not paying attention. A person was trapped in one of those accidents.
Booster seats were among the items that were strewn in the crash's aftermath, officials said.
The wreck happened at mile marker 22 near Bill Gardener Parkway.
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