Overview

• Authorities named the adults killed as Marcus Ragland, 34, and Ashley Brooke Hawkins, 31, both of Rome, Georgia, following Saturday’s collision at Indian Mountain ATV Park.
• Officials said a side-by-side RZR carrying nine people struck another UTV, then traveled about 150 feet, overturned and hit a tree; the driver was ejected and died at the scene and the adult female died at a Birmingham hospital.
• Cherokee County officials reported the seven injured children were about 1 to 12 years old, with some flown to Birmingham trauma centers and others taken to a Rome, Georgia, hospital, and some have since been discharged.
• Investigators said no one in the overloaded vehicle was using restraints and witnesses reported a high rate of speed; the two occupants of the other UTV were uninjured and tried to help.
• The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation, the crash site was remote and required escorts for responders, and officials said first crews arrived within 18 minutes.