Fayetteville ,GA : Two killed in crash on September, Wednesday 20th 2017

An Eatonton woman and child were killed Wednesday, Sept. 20, in a two-vehicle crash on U.S. Hwy. 441 Bypass at Imperial Mill Road in Eatonton.

Georgia State Patrol Cpl. Corey Seymour said Jakeda Ellison, 37, and her 9-year-old daughter, Shamaylaka Ellison, died in the wreck that happened about 4:30 p.m.

Cpl. Seymour said Ellison was driving a 2013 Toyota Corolla east on Imperial Mill Road and attempted to cross the heavily-traveled bypass. Her car was struck by a 2013 Chevrolet 3500 pickup truck driven by Cathy Harwood, also of Eatonton. Harwood was driving northbound on the bypass in the left lane. Both vehicles went off the northeast shoulder of the road and the car struck a tree, the trooper said.

Cpl. Seymour said the child was believed to have died instantly, and her mother was taken by ambulance to Putnam General Hospital, where she later died.

The victims reportedly were trapped in the car and had to be freed by firefighters/first responders with the Eatonton Fire Department and Putnam County Fire Rescue. Personnel with the Putnam Emergency Medical Services also responded to the scene, as did Putnam County Coroner Gary McElhenney, along with the officers from the Eatonton Police Department.

Ellison's 3-year-old niece, who was buckled in a carseat in the rear seat of the car survived, as did the driver of the pickup truck. Harwood complained of shoulder pain, Seymour said, but she declined medical treatment at the scene. The woman stood on the side of the road sobbing as the wreckage was being cleared.

"I told her (Harwood) there was nothing she could have done any differently when that car crossed in front of her," Cpl. Seymour said, noting everyone in both vehicles was seatbelted and alcohol/drugs were not a factor.

Eatonton Police Chief Kent Lawrence called Putnam County School Superintendent Eric Arena, so grief counselors would be on hand Thursday at the school where the student attended.



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Two killed in crash