Fifth Person Dies In Deadly I-75 Wreck

Fatality Victims Include UnumProvident Office Worker

Friday, March 15, 2002

A fifth person has died from the deadly pileup on Interstate 75, authorities said Friday night.

The latest victim was identified as Eunice K. Kandel, 84, of Fisher, Ill.
She and her husband had been heading home after spending the winter at Sarasota, Fla. Their car was caught between two tractor trailers. She was among those taken to Hutcheson Hospital at Fort Oglethorpe.

The other four fatalities include a UnumProvident office worker, a father and son from Eton, Ga., in Murray County, and a Dalton, Ga., man.

Those killed in the wreck in heavy fog at the Boynton Drive overpass were Misty M. Corley, approximately 24, of 2486 W. Nickajack Road, Ringgold; Lonnie Welch Sr., approximately 57, of Eton, Ga.; Lonnie Welch Jr., approximately 32 of Eton, Ga., and Cristian Nogueron Castianeda, approximately 41, of 305 Kay Dr., Ringgold.

The husband of Ms. Corley, Bryan Corley, underwent surgery at Erlanger Medical Center.

Four wreck victims remain in critical condition. Erlanger Medical Center officials said eight are in fair condition and eight others have been released..

Sheriff Summers said the rescue and cleanup for the 125-vehicle pileup on both sides of the freeway was a massive operation.

It involved 47 fire/rescue units, seven emergency medical service agencies, 39 ambulances, five law enforcement agencies, both state and federal transportation department agencies, six HAZ-MAT teams and 18 wrecker services.

Over 300 people were involved in the 17-hour operation.

He said there were 87 vehicles that had damage. The remaining number were "witness" vehicles.

Sheriff Summers said late Friday afternoon, "In a meeting with law enforcement and prosecutors today, it was determined that it remains a possibility of both local and/or federal charges as a result of the accident. The accident investigation is still ongoing. A decision will be made at a later date whether charges will be filed."


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