Cassandra A. Mason, 27, was killed Monday morning in an accident on I-24.
The two-vehicle crash occurred on I-24 Eastbound near mile marker 177. Traffic going east bound on I-24 was backed up for crashes further up the road and the two left lanes continuing onto I-24 were at a complete standstill. A tractor-trailer was stopped in one of the lanes behind other stopped traffic. A Nissan was observed by witnesses continuing around 65-70 MPH in the lane behind the tractor trailer and, according to a witness, the driver did not decrease her speed and rear-ended the tractor trailer.
The driver of the Nissan was pronounced deceased on scene. There were three children in the back seat who were transported to a local hospital for treatment. None of the children were seriously injured.
The deceased mother is the mother of two of the children, and one child was the son of the victim's boyfriend. The father of the other two children is on the way from Nebraska to take custody of his children.
The investigation is ongoing and more information will be released when available.