A dreadful car accident in Cherokee County, Georgia, on Tuesday night, January 9, 2024, led to the death of two teenage boys, while injuring three others.
The accident, according to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, happened near Towne Lake Hills East on Towne Lake Parkway at around 8:17 pm.
The victims, 18-year-old Esteban Cortez-Rendon from Woodstock, Georgia, and 17-year-old Gabriel Escandon from Marietta, Georgia, were among the five teenagers travelling in a Mazda 6.
Reports suggest that the car swerved off the road and crashed into a tree in the median. Escandon was declared dead at the accident site, while Cortez-Rendon succumbed to his injuries at a nearby hospital.
Concidentally, Cortez-Rendon had just marked his 18th birthday on the day of the fatal accident.
The crash resulted in serious but non-lethal injuries for another 17-year-old passenger from Marietta. The 17-year-old driver from Smyrna, Georgia, and an 18-year-old from Tulsa, Oklahoma, also sustained serious injuries. High speed is suspected to be a contributing factor in the accident.
Following the accident, a noticeable police presence was observed at the scene, especially near Etowah High School.
One of the deceased, it was confirmed, used to study at Etowah High School and had last attended the institution in 2022.
The Traffic Enforcement Unit of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating to ascertain the precise circumstances of the crash.
In response to this unfortunate event, Etowah High School has made its crisis team and counselors available to assist students in dealing with the loss.
Etowah High School’s Principal Robert Horn addressed the community, stressing the availability of support for those impacted.
The families of Gabriel Escandon and Esteban Cortez-Rendon are currently preparing for the funeral arrangements.
