Gwinnett County Police Department officials have made one arrest and have released the names of the passengers who died in a fiery van crash at the I-85 and I-985 split over the weekend.
On Wednesday police arrested the van’s driver, Monica Manire, for Reckless Driving and six counts of Homicide by Vehicle in the 1st Degree. She was also charged with improper lane change and four counts of Serious Injury by Vehicle.
“Investigators believe that Manire made a reckless change of lanes from I-85 to I-985 which caused the van she was driving to flip on its side. She was arrested and is currently at the Gwinnett County Jail,” said Gwinnett County Police spokesman Collin Flynn.
The names of the six victims who died in the crash are listed below:
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Alishia Carroll (34 year old female from Columbus)
Kristie Whitfield (44 year old female from Mount Airy)
Ashleigh Paris (26 year old female from Kennesaw)
Tina Rice (53 year old female from Atlanta)
Normisha Monroe (38 year old female from Norcross)
Rose Patrick (34 year old female from Ellabell)
When the van flipped over and burst into flames, other motorists attempted to pull victims from the burning vehicle and render aid.
As a result of the crash, I-985 northbound was shut down along with several lanes of I-85 northbound.
Six people died at the scene, and several others were transported to local hospitals throughout metro-Atlanta. One bystander suffered from a minor injury and denied transport.
The vehicle that caught fire was a passenger van belonging to an addiction recovery organization called “We Are Living Proof.” The organization posted the following message on its Facebook page.
“We are deeply saddened by the the lives lost in Saturday Evenings tragic accident. We ask that you join us in prayer for the families and loved ones of the ladies we lost as well as the survivors. ‘And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus’ -Philippians 4:7.”
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