Tragedy struck hard early Monday morning when two children died after the car they were traveling in hydroplaned on Roosevelt Highway, spinning out of control and colliding with a southbound vehicle.

Palmetto resident Ardea Meadows, 29, was driving north near Wilkerson Mill Road when her 2000 Mitsubishi Galant spun out of control, said Palmetto Police Chief Bobby Fronebarger. All indications from witnesses was that she was driving 50-55 miles per hour, he said.

“She apparently hydroplaned during a downpour, then over-corrected and began spinning,” Fronebarger said. Meadows’ car struck a Dodge Durango driven by an off-duty firefighter.

Killed in the accident was Meadows daughter, 6 year-old Naomi Sutton and her 7 year-old niece Mariah Meadows. Meadows was seriously injured.

One of the children was ejected approximately 20 feet from the vehicle while the other child was partially ejected, said Fronebarger. He said it appeared that the children had been in car seats but the force of the collision had ripped the seat belts away from the vehicle, which was badly mangled in the accident. Fronebarger said the driver of the Durango took evasive action to avoid the collision but was unable to do so.

“It’s real tragic when children are involved,” Fronebarger said Tuesday. “These people were members of the Palmetto community. We grieve with the family in their time of sorrow.”

Georgia State Patrol Accident Reconstruction Team is investigating the accident.

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