Days after a 2-year-old was killed in a North Georgia wreck allegedly caused by a suspected drunken driver, the toddler’s devastated and battered family remained in a hospital.
The father was recovering from injuries to his collarbone, ribs and back, while the mother, who was 25 weeks pregnant, escaped serious injury.
However, she prematurely gave birth to a boy five days after the crash.
Santana Bryson, 23, told AJC.com that her newborn weighed 1 pound, 7 ounces — another challenge for the grieving Rome couple.
“He’s fighting every day, but (we’re) doing good for this moment,” she said in a Facebook message in mid-April. “He’s up to 2 pounds, 4 ounces. We just (keep) praying every day that he continues to grow and stay healthy.”
The driver charged in the deadly wreck will remain in the Fannin County Jail after being denied bond for the second time. Hunter Ethan Elliott, 23, had his motion for bond denied April 29, the Fannin County Superior Court said.
RELATED: Man faces 15 charges, including vehicular homicide, DUI, after crash kills toddler
Credit: Fannin County Sheriff's Office
Credit: Fannin County Sheriff's Office
Elliott faces counts of first-degree vehicular homicide, hit-and-run, DUI and two counts of serious injury by vehicle among his 15 charges, the Georgia State Patrol said. The March 15 wreck killed 2-year-old Cohen Zayne Bryson and injured Santana Bryson and her husband, 24-year-old Joshua Bryson.
The wreck took place between 10:30 and 11 p.m. at the intersection of Ga. 2 and Blue Ridge Drive. A Ford Escape was sitting at the intersection as Elliott approached in his Ford Super Duty truck.
The toddler was in the back seat of the Escape, while Joshua Bryson was driving and Santana Bryson was in the front passenger seat. Hunter is accused of rear-ending the family’s vehicle, killing the child and sending the parents to a hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the GSP said.
MORE: 2-year-old killed, parents injured after crash with suspected DUI driver, GSP says
Elliott’s other charges include counts of driving on a suspended license, distracted driving, open container, improper exhaust system, following too closely, reckless driving, obstruction and operating a vehicle with altered suspension and two counts of glazing of windows, the GSP said.
A GoFundMe page was created for the Brysons and their newborn. The page raised more than $13,000.
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