Columbus, GA : Two children died in crash at Interstate 185 and Victory Drive on Saturday, February 25, 2017

A young girl and boy are dead after the SUV they were riding in went out of control on Victory Drive as it attempted to enter Interstate 185, the Muscogee County Coroner’s Office said Saturday.

The children were identified as Juliana Camaja Taperia, 6, and her cousin, Jose Manuel Taperia, 13, both of Columbus. They were pronounced dead of multiple blunt force injuries in the emergency room of Midtown Medical Center at 2:18 p.m., said Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan. Because they died in a one-vehicle crash, Bryan said no autopsy is planned in the deaths.

Bryan said at least eight children and two adults were traveling in the overloaded Chevy Trailblazer before the crash. The driver was eastbound on Victory Drive and entered the cloverleaf to enter I-185 when it went out of control and rolled down the embankment.

The 6-year-old girl was found partially beneath the vehicle after it landed on its roof, the coroner said.

Bryan said it is unknown whether the occupants were using seat belts but he noted only five could have been strapped in the vehicle.

The other occupants in the SUV are being treated at the hospital.

The accident remains under investigation by the Columbus Police Department. No report was available late Saturday.

Source :
Two children identified in crash at Interstate 185 and Victory Drive