Police and family members have identified two young children killed in separate crashes in Gwinnett County on Sunday.
The family of a 4-year-old girl who was hit and killed while walking in the Mall of Georgia parking lot identified her as Abigail “Abby” Joy Hernandez. She was the fourth person to be killed in separate crashes that happened just minutes apart, authorities said. The earlier collision happened about 20 miles away and left three dead, including a 5-year-old.
“Our sweet little Abby girl ... fought her best to stay but ultimately God called her home,” the family wrote in a GoFundMe campaign to help with medical and funeral expenses.
Credit: Family Photo
Credit: Family Photo
Abigail was walking in the parking lot outside of Dick’s Sporting Goods just after 4 p.m. when a 2004 white Chevrolet Silverado hit her and two others as they crossed Mall of Georgia Drive, Gwinnett police said. While police haven’t confirmed if the people were related, the family said Abigail’s sister and their father were also victims.
Police said the Chevrolet’s 18-year-old driver was traveling northwest from the mall’s parking lot and struck the pedestrians while turning left onto Mall of Georgia Drive.
Abigail was rushed to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston Hospital but did not survive, officials said. The two others, ages 31 and 7, were taken to Northside Hospital Gwinnett with injuries that were not life-threatening, authorities added.
“Unimaginable is the only word I have to describe this,” the girl’s aunt, Lauren Paz, wrote on the GoFundMe page.
Credit: Gwinnett County Police Department
Credit: Gwinnett County Police Department
Officials said the driver of the vehicle stayed at the scene and was cooperating with investigators. Police have not said if any charges are pending, and no other details have been released about what led to the crash.
Just a few minutes before the tragedy, Gwinnett police were already investigating a crash at the intersection of Peachtree Corners Circle and Elmside Village Lane near the Overlook area. Two children, ages 5 and 6, were in one of the vehicles. The younger child, Aura Camarono, later died at the hospital, police said.
“Aura Mae Zamorano was taken from us too early,” her family wrote in a GoFundMe campaign to help with funeral expenses. “She will forever be 5 years old.”
Credit: Gwinnett County Police Department
Credit: Gwinnett County Police Department
According to investigators, the driver of a dark blue BMW was heading eastbound on Elmside Village just before 4 p.m. and tried to turn left onto Peachtree Corners Circle. At the same time, the driver of a yellow Chevrolet Camaro was traveling south on Peachtree Corners Circle in the right lane.
Police said the BMW struck the driver’s-side door of the Camaro, causing debris to spread across the road, photos showed. The BMW’s driver, Armas Harding, and passenger Laura Rueda, both 46-year-old Brookhaven residents, died at the scene.
At the time of the crash, Aura and the other child were situated in the backseat of the Camaro. Both were taken to Scottish Rite Hospital, where the older child was treated for serious injuries.
The Camaro’s driver and front-seat passenger were also taken to a hospital with serious injuries, authorities said.
“(Aura) will be missed by all of us who had the pleasure of knowing her,” her family wrote. “Beautiful, innocent, goofy girl.”
The cause of the crashes remains under investigation.
Any witnesses are asked to call or email GCPD investigators at pdaccidentinvestigationunit@gwinnettcounty.com or 678.442.5653. To remain anonymous, tipsters may contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.stopcrimeATL.com. Crime Stoppers tipsters can receive a cash reward for information leading to an arrest and indictment.
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