GAINESVILLE - Georgia State Patrol officials confirm a fifth person has died as the result of a two-vehicle collision on Ga. 11/U.S. 129 (Athens Highway) Monday morning.<br />
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Sgt. 1st Class Chad Johnson of Georgia State Patrol Post 6 in Gainesville said the latest victim is a 2-year-old boy who would have been 3 at the end of July.<br />
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The 2-year-old boy was seated behind the driver, partially restrained in a high-back booster seat, Johnson said. He was taken from the scene to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, then was airlifted to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, where he died.<br />
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Johnson said a northbound green Ford Explorer driven by 34-year-old Amanda Lynn Pardue of Gainesville crossed the raised median and collided head-on with a southbound tractor-trailer. <br />
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Pardue died at the scene.<br />
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The tractor-trailer, owned by Blue Trucking of North Carolina, overturned onto its left side, blocking both southbound lanes, Johnson said, noting he believed the truck was carrying soft drinks.<br />
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The driver of the tractor-trailer was treated at Northeast Georgia Medical Center then released. His name has not been released.<br />
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The front-seat passenger in the Ford Explorer, identified by as 53-year-old Robbie Hollis of Gainesville, died at the scene.<br />
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Johnson said two children, an 8-year-old girl who was seated in the middle of the back seat and a 13-year-old boy who was seated behind the front-seat passenger, died at the scene. Neither was restrained.<br />
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The GSP Public Information Office identified the children as follows: Elli Emfinger, 2; Kayliegh Emfinger, 8; and Dalton Martin, 13.<br />
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A separate report from the Hall County Sheriff's Office supplemented the information from GSP. Deputy Nicole Bailes said two of the children were related. "There was two that are (sic) the children of the mother that was driving and then there was an additional child who was a friend of the family."<br />
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Bailes said the investigation continues to determine the cause of the accident, however, neither the Sheriff's Office nor the GSP believes the rain was a factor.<br />
