Tragedy struck when reports confirmed that a couple lost their lives in a devastating ATV accident, leaving seven of their eleven children injured.
Marcus Ragland and Ashley Hawkins died following a collision between their recreational vehicle and another ATV at Indian Mountain ATV Park in Piedmont, Alabama, on Saturday afternoon. The vehicles were speeding, traveling about 150 feet before crashing into a tree, authorities indicated.
Ragland was pronounced dead at the scene, while Hawkins was airlifted to a hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries.
All seven injured children were hospitalized, with four requiring transport via helicopter. Ragland was a father of ten, whereas Hawkins was a mother to three.
“This is incredibly hard. It’s just so hard,” expressed Ragland’s mother, Felesia Towers, in a conversation with a local outlet.
A close friend, Maya Boyette, reflected on the couple’s loss, stating, “It’s tragic that they’re both gone. They were really good people, dedicated to their kids, and it’s heart-wrenching that they’re no longer here.”
Shawn Rogers, the Cherokee County Emergency Management Director, noted that none of the involved parties were using harnesses or restraints at the time of the incident.
The crash involved nine individuals, but thankfully, no one on the other ATV sustained injuries, according to officials. However, Ragland’s 13-year-old son suffered serious injuries, including a broken skull, while his 10-year-old daughter endured a fractured collarbone. Additionally, his 2-year-old daughter suffered a spleen injury.
Getting medical assistance to the remote location of the accident proved challenging, the coroner’s office stated, highlighting that personnel from ATV Park had to guide paramedics to the crash site.
