Mom, 2 children die in crash after being hit by wrong-way DUI driver, family says

2 hours ago

WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News Staff,

LEE COUNTY, Ga. (WALB/Gray News) — A woman and two of her children were killed in a crash involving a wrong-way driver in Georgia.

The crash happened on Wednesday night on U.S. 82 in Lee County.

Officials identified the victims as 32-year-old Bernedine Spann, 13-year-old Ja’Leah Spann and 7-year-old Jaxton Spann.

Officials identified the victims as 32-year-old Bernedine Spann, 13-year-old Ja’Leah Spann and 7-year-old Jaxton Spann.

Bernedine and Ja’Leah Spann died at the scene. Jaxton Spann died days later at the hospital.

James Spann, the children’s father, wrote on Facebook, “prayers prayers prayers as Jaxton Dontrez Spann transition over to be with his mom and sister.”

According to the Georgia State Patrol, 41-year-old Sherita Goddard was suspected of driving under the influence and causing the crash. Officials said she was driving the wrong way when she crashed into the Spann family’s vehicle.

Goddard and a passenger, believed to be her daughter, were both injured and hospitalized. Their conditions had not been reported.

It was unclear whether Goddard was facing charges.

Family and friends of the victims, however, are hoping for full accountability.

Shonda James, who said she was Bernedine’s best friend for 10 years, said she was not only devastated but incredibly angry over the situation.

“She [Goddard] needs to be held accountable to the full extent. She killed people — they did not have to die. She needs to take accountability. She needs to go to jail. I have no sympathy. I have no forgiveness for her at this moment,” James said.

James added, “It was negligent for them to let her drive drunk from wherever she was coming from and it’s the fact that she did not care, she made a conscience decision to get behind the wheel with children in her car and drive on the wrong side of the freaking road.”

Randolph County Schools confirmed Ja’Leah Spann was an eighth-grade student and Jaxton Spann was a second-grade student. Randolph County Schools said in a statement that counseling and support services would be available to students and staff.

A GoFundMe was set up to support the family.

According to the GoFundMe page, Bernedine leaves behind another son, who was not in the vehicle at the time of the crash. The page said he is “now grieving the devastating loss of his mother, brother and sister.”

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