Late on a Saturday afternoon, the quiet peace of the woods near Indian Mountain ATV Park in Alabama was shattered by a horrific accident that left two adults dead and seven children wounded. The incident has sent ripples of grief through the Georgia‑Alabama border communities, where the two adults were from Rome, Georgia, and the children were part of their family circle.
The crash happened shortly before 4 p.m. on Saturday in a remote section of the park, according to emergency officials. A side‑by‑side ATV (a RZR model) carrying nine people apparently collided with another ATV, then rolled and struck a tree. The vehicle had two adults and seven children aboard.
Investigation details revealed that the man driving the ATV, identified as Marcus Ragland, 34, of Rome, Georgia, was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. The female adult, Ashley Hawkins, 31, also of Rome, was airlifted to a trauma center in Birmingham, Alabama, where she later died from her injuries.
The seven injured children ranged in age from 1 to 12 years old, all from the same family group. Some were flown to hospitals in Birmingham, others were transported by ambulance to Rome, Georgia. Their injuries include skull fractures, broken bones, and internal trauma — though exact conditions have not been fully released.
Authorities say the ATV was carrying more people than it was likely designed for, and no one was wearing proper harnesses or restraint systems at the time of the crash. According to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, the vehicle struck another that had attempted to avoid it, rolled roughly 150 feet, and hit a tree.
In a public statement, Cherokee County Emergency Management Agency Director Shawn Rogers stressed the importance of following manufacturer capacity guidelines and wearing restraints in off‑road vehicles: “This is one of those things that personal responsibility has to be taken, to ensure your own safety and the safety of those that’s in your care.”
Loved ones of Ragland and Hawkins are left grappling with the loss of two energetic, caring parents who were active in their families and communities. Family members recalled Marcus as a man who “lived life to the fullest” and Ashley as a “sweet soul” always smiling. One child said: “Now, we don’t have no more time with him, so it don’t feel good.”
As investigators continue piecing together the exact details of what led to the crash, including the speed of the ATV and whether any impairment played a role, community leaders urge anyone heading into rural off‑road areas to treat such machines with respect and caution. For now, a family mourns, children heal, and two lives are gone far too soon.
