Young couple killed when SUV hydroplanes into oncoming traffic

Brittany Smith, 19, was killed in a crash in Putnam County. Her boyfriend, 18-year-old Michael Christopher Rhodes, died, too. (Credit: GoFundMe)

Brittany Smith, 19, was killed in a crash in Putnam County. Her boyfriend, 18-year-old Michael Christopher Rhodes, died, too. (Credit: GoFundMe)

An SUV hydroplaned into oncoming traffic Sunday in Putnam County, hit another SUV and killed a young couple, the sheriff said.

An SUV driven by Tracey Rhodes, 50, of Madison, crossed the center line of U.S. 441 about 4:50 p.m. and collided with the other SUV, Putnam Sheriff Howard Sills said.

Rhodes’ two sons, 18-year-old Michael Christopher and 14-year-old Adam Rhodes, were in the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee at the time of the crash. Brittany Smith, 19, of Madison, was also in the SUV.

Smith and Michael Christopher Rhodes died on the scene, Sills said.

Smith was Michael Rhodes' girlfriend and a student at the University of North Georgia, according to a GoFundMe page for Smith.

She graduated from Morgan County High School in 2016.

“We grieve for their loss and pray for peace and comfort for the families during this unimaginable time,” said Katie Charette, who created the GoFundMe page.

Paramedics rushed Rhodes and her surviving son to Athens Regional Hospital, Sills said. The driver of the other SUV, Kaitlyn Black, 21, of Bethlehem, was taken to the same hospital.

Their conditions were not known Monday afternoon.

No other details were released.

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