Crime & Safety

8-Year-Old Among I-575 Fatalities

A 19-year-old Acworth man also died at the scene.

One of two people killed in an afternoon crash that temporarily shutdown Interstate 575 South was 8 years old, the spokesman for the Cobb County Police Department said this evening.

Just before 2 p.m. Monday, Abraham Fernandez-Zuniga of Acworth was driving a red 2001 Chrysler Town and Country minivan northbound on I-575 with the 8-year-old passenger in tow. At the same time, Earldean Clayton of Rex was driving southbound on I-575 in a white 2007 International 7600 commercial vehicle.

"For reasons unknown, the Chrysler exited the left side of the roadway, and continued in a northwesterly direction through the center median," said Officer Mike Bowman, the department's spokesman. "As the Chrysler entered into the southbound lanes, it was struck in the driver’s side by the commercial truck."

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Fernandez-Zuniga, 19, died at the scene just north of Chastain Road. So did his 8-year-old passenger, whose identity was withheld "pending proper notification."

Clayton, 42, was taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital with non-life threatening injuries, Bowman said.

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Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call (770) 499-3987.

All lanes of I-575 South were reopened shortly after 5:30 p.m.

Related content

  • Two Killed in I-575 Crash
  • Fatal Crash Leads to I-575 Shutdown

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