Sharpsburg mother killed

Source: Times Herald
Author: Cameron Johnson
Date: October 9, 2001

A Sharpsburg mother of two was killed Saturday while assisting victims of a car crash on Interstate 85 in northeast Georgia, according to Georgia State Patrol spokesman Jim Shuler.

Amy Jo Brown, 34, of 25 Line Creek Circle, was a registered nurse who happened upon an accident on I-85 close to Carnesville, four miles south of Ga. Hwy. 320. As she administered care, she was killed by a secondary collision, according Shuler. The GSP Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team (S.C.R.T.) is investigating the incident.

The original crash was caused by a driver traveling south in the northbound lanes, according to Shuler. Sumit Kari of Flowery Branch, 30, was traveling north Saturday morning in an Infiniti G20 when he was struck head-on by a Chrysler Sebring traveling south. The errant Chrysler was driven by James Mcgrath, 26, of Simpsonville, S.C.

Both were injured and in serious condition when taken to Ty Cobb Memorial Hospital near Franklin, according to Shuler.

In the aftermath, Brown, of Sharpsburg, came upon the scene and began assisting with the victims of the crash. She was then struck by another vehicle in a secondary collision, according to Shuler.

Before the crash was cleared, a Toyota MR2 struck the left side of the Infiniti G20, which, according to Shuler, was near where Brown was working. The Toyota was driven by Heico Ramirez, 22, of Raleigh, N.C. He was also injured.

"Initially it appears she was a passer-by who stopped to help," according to Shuler. "It is so unfortunate that she was killed doing what any one of us as an accident victim would have wanted her to do."

The two crashes are still under investigation, according to Shuler, who had only the preliminary report to comment from. All drivers involved were tested for alcohol and drugs, which is a standard procedure for accidents leading to a fatality. The samples were sent to the GBI crime lab for testing, and the results are not yet available.

Possible charges are pending against Ramirez, according to Shuler, and definite charges are pending against James Mcgrath.