Parents Killed in Holiday Weekend ATV Crash in Alabama

Two parents have been identified as the adults killed in an all-terrain vehicle park crash in Alabama over the weekend that also left seven children injured.

Marcus Ragland, 34, and 31-year-old Ashley Hawkins, both of Rome, Ga., were killed on Saturday, Aug. 30, Cherokee County Coroner Paul McDonald said in a new statement.

“The Cherokee County Coroner’s Office extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and coworkers of Mr. Ragland and Ms. Hawkins during this difficult time,” McDonald’s office said. “Our thoughts and prayers remain with all who are affected by this tragic loss.”

Ragland and Hawkins reportedly had two children together and were also separately parents: Ragland was a father to 10 children and Hawkins was a mother of three, according to WAGA. 

“I’m still waiting on him to come through the door,” Felicia Towers, Ragland’s mother, told WXIA, “but I know he’s not coming.”

According to AL.com and a statement from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred on Saturday when two utility task vehicles (UTVs) carrying a total of 11 people collided on a trail at Indian Mountain ATV Park in Piedmont.  

Officials said nine people were in one of the UTVs while the other had two passengers.

The larger group’s vehicle “overturned and struck a tree” after both UTVs collided, according to the sheriff’s office.

“The driver was ejected and pronounced deceased at the scene by Cherokee County Coroner Paul McDonald. The remaining eight occupants were also injured,” the sheriff’s office said.

The adult woman in the group, identified as Hawkins, later died from her injuries, according to authorities.

Seven children, ranging in ages from 1 to 12, were initially hospitalized.

The crash remains under investigation. Officials said neither a safety harness nor restraint were used in the utility task vehicle (UTV) with Ragland and Hawkins, per AL.com.

“This is a tragic accident and highlights the importance of operating RZRs and other recreational vehicles in a safe and responsible manner,” Cherokee Sheriff Jeff Shaver said in a statement. 

The driver and passenger in the other UTV weren’t hurt.

“This is just so hard to deal with it. It’s just so hard,” Towers, Ragland’s mom, told WANF. “I’m going to miss him. I loved him. I don’t know what else to say. He was a good boy. He was really fun to be around. He met no strangers. He was friends with everyone.”

Audrey Dunn, who has a 5-year-old and a 1-year-old with Ragland, told WXIA that her older child “remembers everything that happened.”

“He told me when we got to the hospital, and I got to go in, he said, ‘Mom, my dad died, but it’s okay because he’ll be back to get me tomorrow,” Dunn said, adding, “So he doesn’t understand that he will never see him again.”

Four of the children have since been discharged from the hospital, including Dunn’s two kids, WAGA reported. 

“My 1-year-old is limping, and his face is scratched up pretty bad, [my other son] has a gash on the top of his head, but he’s okay, so thank God the babies are okay,” Dunn said, according to WAGA. 

Towers told WXIA that her son went to the ATV park every weekend. 

“This time he [Ragland] wanted to take his children with him, you know, to share the fun,” she said. “They were ready to go, so it just ended up being a tragedy. I just hate it.”

Maya Boyett, a friend of Ragland and Hawkins, told WANF: “They are both two good people, good to their kids. And I really hate that they’re gone now.”

Located in the Appalachian Mountain range, the Indian Mountain ATV Park is a private off-road park with 4,700 acres of land, according to its website.

The park offers off-highway vehicle riding, camping, fishing and hiking. (Representatives of Indian Mountain did not immediately respond to a request for comment.)

“Scenes like this are always difficult, especially when they involve children,” Coroner McDonald also said in a statement. “Please do everything you can to ensure the safety of yourself and those around you.”

A GoFundMe has been set up to help Ragland’s children that, as of Monday. Sept. 1, has raised more than $2,400. 

In an email to PEOPLE, Jennifer Fife, the organizer for the fundraiser, said that the injured children are doing better. 

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“Marcus was a devoted dad, son and brother,” Fife said, “[he] loved his family and loved to have fun. He paid the ultimate price Saturday when he took his children to enjoy the Labor Day weekend.”

“These kids lost their daddy,” Fife added, “they needed him, they loved him, he loved them… such a sad sad time for them all. … all caregivers for the children and the children are going to need as much help as possible.”