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It should go without saying that seatbelts are imperative to saving lives in motor vehicle crashes. In fact, when ejections, either partial or complete occur, most occur due to failure to wear a seatbelt. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), people are 30 times more likely to be ejected during a crash when not wearing a seatbelt. Moreover, 3 out of 4 of those who are ejected sustain fatal injuries. Additionally, the agency reports that those who are killed in accidents are typically unrestrained.
5 News Online reports on a rollover crash that claimed the life of a young girl.
The accident occurred on May 12th when a woman driving a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer northbound on Interstate 75 just north of Locust Grove.
Sonia Del Carmen Cabrera Benitez, 31, attempted to change lanes but overcorrected. She lost control and the vehicle began to spin, striking a 2012 Nissan Sentra being driven by Stephanie Webb, 37, of McDonough, Georgia.
After striking the Nissan, the Mountaineer went back across the roadway, overturning and ejecting all nine passengers.
10-year-old Angelica Ballinas was killed in the accident. Five other children, ranging in age from 5 to 16 were transported to Egleston Hospital for Children in Atlanta. Another adult passenger, 46-year-old Maria Olimpia Rivas Quevado was taken along with Benitez to Atlanta Medical Center for treatment.
The driver of the Nissan struck a guardrail but was not transported to the hospital for treatment.
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