In a tragic incident that transpired in the U.S. state of Georgia, a sixteen-year-old girl was killed in a hit-and-run accident while she was handing out flyers for a revival event at her church.
The teenager, Caelyn Olds, was the stepdaughter of Nicholas Adams, the preacher at the Middle Fayette Church of Christ and his wife. The Christian couple was forced to cancel the revival event, and prepare for their daughter's funeral instead.
Young Caelyn was not the only casualty involved. A report on WSB-TV Atlanta reveals that a 60-year-old woman who was also involved in advertising for the revival event was killed on the Saturday morning. The driver behind the incident, 42-year-old Marcia DeMarcus, was reportedly high on prescription drugs when she ran into the duo.
She was driving a pickup truck, as Christian Post reports. Upon nearing Caelyn and the older woman, who were walking along the shoulder of the road, she swerved off the road. The teenage girl suffered a head-on blow, and passed away after she was transported to a local hospital.
According to accounts by witnesses, the driver of the truck was apparently driving around rashly, in an out-of-control manner, hitting and damaging mailboxes along the way. Vic bey, a witness, revealed, "It's 35 and she was going 60-65 because the impact took the little girl out. She put her head down. She knew what she did and she took off. It's a horrible, senseless act that definitely could have been avoided."
DeMarcus attempted to flee the scene, but Fayette County Sheriff deputies caught up with her, and she was charged with a DUI. Although the police force believes she was high on prescription medication, it can take months for the toxicology reports to confirm this statement.
A memorial service is to be held for Caelyn at the Mowell & Son Funeral Home on Thursday.