Family pays tribute to 17-year-old killed in ATV crash

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A household is looking for solutions after a four-wheeler crash claimed the lifetime of an Augusta teenager who had her complete grownup life forward of her.

Cheyenne Grace, 17, died Friday night time on the scene of the crash at Barton Chapel Highway and Blossom Drive.

On the scene on Monday morning was a memorial to Grace that features flowers, balloons, candles, and pictures.

In accordance with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Workplace, the accident occurred round 9:22 p.m. Friday. The four-wheeler was struck by a automotive turning onto Barton Chapel from Blossom Drive, then it traveled into the trail of a deputy-driven patrol automotive.

Grace was pronounced useless on the scene.

The crash is being investigated by the Georgia State Patrol, and the incident report isn’t accessible but, so there’s loads we don’t know.

Her mom says nobody has reached out to her about how all this occurred, and he or she nonetheless has many unanswered questions.

“I don’t know whether or not to be mad, blissful, or unhappy. I’m devastated,” mentioned Deshandra Parks, Grace’s mother.

Devastated as a result of Parks says her daughter was so near being dwelling.

“200, 300 toes from dwelling. It’s proper there,” she mentioned.

The household says she was within the median attempting to cross the street when the automotive struck her. Whereas she was on the bottom, she was hit once more by a deputy’s patrol automotive, in keeping with the household.

“It’s simply the best way she went for me that hurts probably the most for me. I’m not alleged to bury my child, my child is meant to bury me,” mentioned Parks.

Nonetheless, the household is on the lookout for solutions.

“No one has mentioned something to me about what occurred, the way it occurred, or something,” she mentioned.

Parks says her daughter was sporting a helmet, and the ATV had headlights and switch indicators. She says pace has been a difficulty for a while on this street.

“As you possibly can clearly see and the vehicles are nonetheless flying by,” she mentioned.

They’re hoping to sluggish drivers down and put up extra streetlights.

“We’re going to have some sort of legislation put in or one thing that’s going to occur from her dying. It’s not going to be in useless. I’ll ensure that of that,” mentioned Parks.

Grace was going to be a rising junior at Cross Creek Excessive College. Her mother says she cherished to do hair and was aspiring to develop into a beautician.

Shopper Product and Security Fee statistics present hundreds of younger individuals have died in ATV crashes over time:

• There have been no less than 15,744 ATV-related fatalities between 1982 and 2018 in the US. Of these, no less than 3,353 concerned youngsters beneath 16. This represents 21 % of the whole variety of reported ATV-related fatalities.
• Though the proportion fluctuates from yr to yr, youngsters beneath 12 typically signify nearly half of all under-age-16 baby fatalities from 1982 by means of 2018. Of the three,353 ATV-related fatalities of kids beneath 16 years outdated, 44 % have been youthful than 12.

Additionally within the information …

ANOTHER CRASH: On Monday morning, there was one other accident close to the positioning of the crash that killed Cheyenne Grace. Thirty yards from the memorial to Grace, one other member of her household was concerned in a wreck. The accident left the entrance finish of a automotive crumpled, however didn’t seem critical.

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