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#54 FW: Tragedy in Atlanta
From: Madhere, Wesley <Wesley.Madhere@turner.com>
> For Immediate Release...
>
> Six Haitians died on their way home from church Sunday after their car was
> rear-ended by a tractor-trailer. Attached, is a copy of an article on the
> accident by the local newspaper, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution.
> A Fund Drive to help the families has been established at First Union Bank
> - Account #2000002672793
> or send checks or money orders payable to Good Samaritan Memorial Fund to:
>
> Good Samaritan Memorial Fund
> C/O Radio Savannah
> 2840 NE Expressway
> Suite 214
> Atlanta, GA 30345
>
>
> <<Tragedy.txt>>
> For more information, please contact Radio Savannah at the address above
> or at:
> Tel. (404)315-0165
> Fax (404)634-9983
>
> *******************************************
> Wesley Madhere
> Technology Services
> Turner Broadcasting System,Inc.
> One CNN Center
> Atlanta, GA 30348-5573
> ********************************************
>
Crushed car may have stopped
By Brad Schrade, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Nissan Sentra crushed by a
tractor-trailer on a Ga. 400 exit lane had slowed to a crawl,
or even stopped, before the crash that killed its six passengers,
Roswell police said Monday.
And it doesn't appear that any charges will be filed against the
truck driver, Robert L. Moore, of Decatur, who slammed into the
rear of the Nissan on Sunday afternoon, killing
the six Haitian natives on their way home from church, said
Sgt. Jim McGee.
"At least two other vehicles swerved to avoid the (Nissan),"
McGee said. "Something wasn't right with the vehicle."
Marie Saurel, 33, her daughter, Cindy Saurel, 12, and two
children--Diana Richemond, 10, and Mazyno Richemond, 6, a
sister and brother--all were in the back seat when the truck
skidded and slammed into their car. They died instantly.
Driver Leroy Petit-Simon, 46, and Marie's brother, Andris
Pierre, 43, were in the front seat and also died in the
Nissan.
McGee said it is unclear why the car slowed down.
Investigators will examine the engine again today and
interview more witnesses to help determine why the car was
traveling so slowly in the northbound Exit 7A lane to
Holcomb Bridge Road. One witness said the car had stopped
completely, McGee said.
Witnesses said the car had its hazard lights flashing, but
they were dim, McGee said. Alcohol wasn't a part of the
accident and the Nissan appeared to have had gas because
investigators smelled it after the accident.
McGee said Moore was a contract driver for the U.S. Postal
Service and was going to the Roswell post office at Grimes
Bridge Road. He has been a truck driver for more than 30
years and Sunday's crash was his first serious accident,
McGee said.
The Haitians had been traveling from Good Samaritan Baptist
Church off Dresden Drive in north Atlanta. Cindy sang with
other children in the church's Haitian Father's Day
celebration.
They lived in various apartments in Roswell along Holcomb
Bridge Road and Ga. 400.
Raymond Joseph lived across the hall from Apartment 1465D in
Kings Bridge apartments where Pierre and Marie and Cindy
Saurel lived. The two families had prayed and talked and
shared a meal together Saturday night.
Pierre, a cook, had a wife and three children back in Haiti
to whom he sent money. He'd wanted to save enough money to
go back home and build a house for his family, Joseph said.
Joseph and Pierre were from the same town in Haiti and had
known each other for 15 years, Joseph said. Like many
Haitians, he'd come to the United States to escape the
poverty and violence of his homeland.
Cindy, who would have started in the sixth grade at Holcomb
Bridge Middle School this year, loved singing. She sang a
song Saturday night during the gathering at Joseph's
apartment.
"That made joy for everybody in the house," Joseph said.
"She sang for me Saturday night. Something I will never
forget the rest of my life."
Petit-Simon, the driver, was a custodian at Roswell High
School. He sent portions of his paycheck home to his wife
and four children. He'd begun trying to bring his family to
this country.
His niece, Eliene Lynn, was at Petit-Simon's Harmony Bay
apartment Monday afternoon where relatives and friends
gathered to cry and mourn together.
Lynn said relatives are struggling to fly in for his burial
that will be held in metro Atlanta.
"He wanted them to be here," Lynn said. "He didn't get to
accomplish that before he went. Maybe they'll get to be here
for his funeral."